Lewis Hamilton insists his decision to abandon Ferrari’s simulator preparation has been one of the most significant factors in his improved 2026 form.
The seven-time world champion first drew attention to his sim concerns after a disappointing sixth-place finish at the Miami Grand Prix earlier this season.
Hamilton pointed to a major correlation issue between the simulator’s data and how the car actually behaved on track during race weekends.
He cited his result in China as clear evidence that his performances improve significantly when he avoids simulator work ahead of a grand prix.
Following Miami, Hamilton took the bold step of skipping all simulator preparation before the Canadian Grand Prix, a decision that paid off with a second-place podium finish.
Since that turning point, the 41-year-old has ended his wait for a victory with Ferrari, finally standing on the top step of the podium in red.
Ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, Hamilton confirmed to Motorsport that he has continued to stay away from the simulator since Canada, simply replying: “No,” when asked if he had returned to it.
When pushed further on the impact that decision has had, Hamilton smiled before stating: “Massively…I tried all last year with it, but as I said, when I was at Mercedes for the first few years I didn’t use it.”
He expanded on his long history with simulation technology, adding: “I’ve been driving simulators since 1997 and they can be really powerful and really useful tools, but they can also mislead you.”
Hamilton was candid about how much the simulator had worked against him during his difficult debut season with Ferrari, saying: “I found all last year particularly that was the case, and then in previous years when I was at Mercedes it was very similar, so that’s why I didn’t use it.”
The 106-time grand prix winner summed up the impact of his stance clearly, stating: “Since I stopped, my performance has gone much, much better.”
The improvement in Hamilton’s form represents an encouraging shift for Fred Vasseur’s Ferrari squad, who are now mounting a serious challenge to Mercedes in both championships.
Hamilton’s willingness to go against conventional team preparation methods reflects a confidence in his own judgment built over decades at the very top of the sport.