Simulator alarm at Ferrari? Luigi Mazzola analyses the situation: “I agree that…”
Former Ferrari engineer Luigi Mazzola has weighed in on the debate surrounding Ferrari’s simulator after Lewis Hamilton revealed he chose not to use it ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion’s comments have sparked discussion over whether there could be a deeper issue with simulator correlation at Maranello.
Following his impressive second-place finish in Canada, Lewis Hamilton explained how he plans to approach simulator work moving forward.
“The simulator? I’ll drive it again at some point… It could be useful, for example, to go back and compare with this weekend to understand where the gaps are. The test driver will say that everything is fine, but they only know what they know, because they don’t actually race the car. Only Charles and I drive the car. The positive side of driving the real car is that you can come back and say: ‘This is what it actually feels like, these are the things we’re missing,’ so that we can improve it.”
The seven-time world champion also admitted that he has never particularly enjoyed simulator work, describing himself as part of the “old school,” and confirmed that he does not intend to rely on it for the upcoming rounds.
Mazzola: “Better to let someone skilled do that work”
“There are two aspects. It’s a track that Lewis Hamilton likes and where he has always performed strongly. So he was already in a situation that naturally placed him on a higher level than Charles Leclerc, who has never particularly loved this circuit. Once he realised he had the upper hand over Charles Leclerc, that gave him even more confidence.
“As for the simulator, we are talking about a driver who is no longer particularly young, and neither Kimi Raikkonen nor Michael Schumacher were especially fond of simulator work. Back then, however, there was real testing. Now there isn’t, so you cannot completely do without it.
“But I agree with the idea that someone else should handle the simulator work — someone who actually enjoys it or approaches it with dedication and determination — rather than a driver who clearly feels a difference compared to the reality of the circuit. So it is better to have someone skilled working there, providing useful feedback, while Lewis Hamilton focuses on the real-world driving.”
These were Luigi Mazzola’s comments during Race Anatomy. His suggestion is effectively to reverse the process: analyse the data gathered in Canada first, then use the simulator to validate and refine the findings.
Lewis Hamilton appeared comfortable from the opening laps in Montreal, quickly finding a setup that suited his driving style on a circuit where he has traditionally excelled. However, the fact that the British driver does not feel entirely comfortable with the simulator does not necessarily point to a correlation issue. It may simply mean that the sensations differ from what he experiences in the actual car.
For Ferrari, the next round will be crucial. Arriving at Monaco with the right setup already in place will be essential, because on a street circuit where confidence is everything, there is little room for mistakes.
Luigi Mazzola’s seasoned perspective on Lewis Hamilton’s old-school setup methodology therefore highlights a highly specialized engineering dynamic as Ferrari targets consistent constructors’ championship momentum. While the sport’s heavy testing restrictions make virtual simulator tracking loops an absolute necessity for modern vehicle development, capitalizing on Hamilton’s unparalleled real-world intuition provides the trackside team with an alternative, highly potent technical edge. As data engineers process the telemetry sheets from Canada to prepare for the unique aerodynamic and low-speed mechanical grip challenges of Monaco, balancing virtual simulation models with authentic driver feedback will be the absolute key. If Fred Vasseur’s management can successfully integrate Hamilton’s data-driven preferences without disrupting Charles Leclerc’s development path, Ferrari will possess the precise operational versatility required to consistently challenge Mercedes for outright grand prix victories across the remaining European stints of the 2026 season.
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