Ralf Schumacher reveals paddock talk on Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s simulator work. Ralf Schumacher shares paddock rumours about Lewis Hamilton’s approach to simulator work at Ferrari.

Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has once again shared some of the rumours he has picked up in the paddock, this time focusing on Lewis Hamilton and his working methods at Ferrari. The comments have sparked discussion, as they touch on a sensitive and increasingly important aspect of modern Formula 1: simulator work.

Hamilton and Ferrari

After a year together, Lewis Hamilton is now required to deliver a decisive turnaround following the disappointing results achieved so far behind the wheel of the Ferrari. The British champion has yet to step onto the podium, a blemish that is unprecedented over the course of his extremely long and successful career in Formula 1.

There is hope within the team and among fans that the upcoming regulatory revolution could play in favour of the seven-time world champion, allowing him to rediscover the sharpness and brilliance that appeared to be missing during a very difficult 2025 season.

Paddock rumours

Ralf Schumacher is no stranger to reporting paddock whispers gathered in the pit lane, and he did so once again during an early December episode of the Formel1.de podcast. His statements attracted particular attention because they directly concerned Lewis Hamilton and a specific element of his work at Ferrari’s Maranello factory.

“Lewis Hamilton is an old-school driver and therefore he does not like spending time in the simulator, or in any case he uses it very rarely. These days, that is a problem. If you cannot test on track, you have to commit yourself in the simulator, but he does not like it or does not want to do it. I have no idea why and I did not ask him. I have only heard that he does not do it, while Leclerc – like Verstappen – does it every day. This does not help when you urgently need the driver, as in Ferrari’s case, to contribute to development.”

As Formula 1 continues to lean heavily on virtual tools for car development and setup optimization, the “old school” approach of preferring real-world feedback over digital sims could be a significant hurdle for Lewis Hamilton as he tries to close the gap to his younger teammate.