Does Lewis Hamilton Use An F1 Simulator?

Yes, Lewis Hamilton uses an F1 simulator, but he does so sparingly and only when it serves a clear purpose, favoring real track time over virtual laps. The seven-time world champion has voiced doubts about simulators throughout his career, yet he’s logged hours when teams like Mercedes and Ferrari demanded it.

Hamilton’s Early Years: Avoiding the Simulator

A Reluctance Rooted in Feel

Lewis Hamilton didn’t rely on simulators when he debuted with McLaren in 2007. By 2016, at Mercedes, he made his stance clear. “I could spend £100 on a PlayStation and learn the same amount,” he said after doing eight laps in the Mercedes sim for Baku’s first race. Speed and physicality were missing—elements he prized as a driver who thrived on instinct.

Minimal Use, Maximum Results

Hamilton kept sim time low even as tech advanced. “I hardly ever drive on the simulator. I maybe do 20 laps a year, maybe. I have no interest in the simulator,” he told Martin Brundle in 2021 after his 100th pole in Spain. He skipped track walks too, leaning on FP1 and FP2 to get himself dialled in.

A Shift in 2021: When Pressure Forced His Hand

Red Bull’s 2021 dominance—four straight wins from Monaco to Austria—pushed Hamilton into the Brackley sim twice a week, before and after the Styrian GP. “Well I can’t say that I necessarily enjoyed it. Just really, particularly after those last difficult races we had, I just went in to see if there’s any way I can help the team be better prepared,” he said.

Hamilton found “a couple of good things” that aided Mercedes’ fightback, which ultimately fell agonisingly short as Max Verstappen went on to win his first championship.

2022-2024: More Sim Time, Same Doubts

Mercedes’ W13 floundered in 2022—no wins, Hamilton’s first shutout. His sim use rose as the team grappled with porpoising, but it didn’t help turn his or his team’s fortunes around.

“Completely different,” he said of the sim versus real cars. By 2023, with the W14 still off-pace, he logged more laps to tweak aero and setup, though he stayed critical.

Late Mercedes Prep

Before his Ferrari switch was announced in February 2024, Hamilton ran W15 sim laps. The car won four races in 2024—his Silverstone and Abu Dhabi triumphs among them—showing his input helped achieve some late gains, however, sim work remained a support role, not a passion.

2025 Ferrari Move: A New Sim Era?

Hamilton joined Ferrari on January 1, 2025, and with pre-season testing beginning on February 26 in Bahrain, Hamilton and all his rivals are expected to get 1.5 days of running at the desert track. Before then, he has spent more time in the simulator.

After a January 22 Fiorano test (30 laps in an SF-23), Ferrari’s program pushed sim work to reset his Mercedes habits.

Bahrain Testing Looms

Bahrain’s February 26-28 test marks Hamilton’s first public Ferrari laps, where he will split SF-25 time with Charles Leclerc.

The sim sessions beforehand—likely hundreds of laps—focus on the car’s pull-rod suspension and 2025 aero package.

Why Hamilton Uses Simulators Less Than Peers

Hamilton’s 103 wins tower over Verstappen’s 62 and Norris’s four. Verstappen races iRacing; Norris plays F1 24.

“You don’t feel the G-forces,” Hamilton said of sims, so he banks on natural feel—real cars teach him more.

While Hamilton’s use of simulators in 2025, more than his 20-lap yearly low, has been driven by Ferrari’s prep, expect to see the Brit complete 50-100 laps this winter, targeting SF-25 quirks and on-track experience.

Simulator analysis powering this breakdown came from Eldorado, your go-to spot to buy Forza Horizon 5 credits and level up your virtual racing.

Formula 1 Simulator FAQs

Why Do F1 Drivers Use Simulators?

F1 drivers use simulators to learn tracks, test setups, and boost performance without burning track time. They’re vital for mastering circuits like Monaco before arriving, refining car balance, and running race scenarios—wet laps, pit stops—impossible in limited practice.

When Did F1 Teams Start Using Simulators?

F1 teams began using simulators seriously in the late 1990s and early 2000s. McLaren pioneered basic rigs in the ’90s, but Ferrari’s 2002 setup marked a leap, syncing with Michael Schumacher’s title run. By 2010, post-testing bans, every team had advanced sims, cutting reliance on real laps.

What Simulator Does Max Verstappen Use?

Max Verstappen uses a custom Red Bull simulator at home, plus the team’s Milton Keynes rig. His personal setup—a Playseat chassis, direct-drive wheel, and triple monitors—runs iRacing for pro-grade sim racing. Red Bull’s facility, a multi-axis beast, mirrors his actual race car for F1 prep. Verstappen won a Nurburgring 24 sim race during the Imola Grand Prix weekend in 2024.

What Is the Best Formula 1 Simulator?

The best F1 simulator hinges on purpose. For pros, teams’ in-house rigs—like Mercedes’ Brackley setup or Ferrari’s Maranello unit—top the list with real-time data and motion platforms. For fans, the F1 Arcade’s £2 million unit or Red Bull’s RB19 sim ($134,000) bring near-pro feel.

Can You Buy an F1 Simulator?

Yes, you can buy an F1 simulator, but options vary. F1 Authentics sells official merch-like sims—think $10,000-$20,000 for static setups, while Red Bull’s RB19 motion sim, at $134,000, targets hardcore buyers. Team-grade £8 million rigs aren’t for sale—they’re custom-built.

What Is the Cost of an F1 Simulator?

An F1 simulator’s cost varies wildly. Team rigs hit £8 million ($10 million USD), with seven-post hydraulics, supercomputers, and F1-spec cockpits. Consumer versions—like Red Bull’s RB19—run $134,000. Basic sims (wheel, pedals, screen) start at £500 ($650 USD).

Written by

Jack Renn

Jack Renn is an editor at F1 Chronicle and a veteran motorsport journalist with 25 years of experience covering Formula 1 and international motorsport. A member of the Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive (AIPS), the global body representing accredited sports journalists, Jack has spent his career reporting from paddocks and press rooms across the F1 calendar. His work spans race analysis, technical insight, and in-depth features, giving readers authoritative coverage grounded in decades of firsthand experience at the highest level of the sport.

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