A proponent of simulator work in Formula 1, Oscar Piastri acknowledged that not every driver feels as comfortable with the technology—given that, as he pointed out, the tool “will never be perfect.” Addressing recent criticism from Lewis Hamilton, the McLaren driver also highlighted that belonging to different generations plays a role in personal preferences.
Following a difficult weekend for Ferrari at the Miami Grand Prix, the seven-time World Champion raised the possibility that the team’s simulator might be hindering performance, claiming that data generated by the rig failed to correlate with track findings. Consequently, the driver of car #44 decided to alter his preparation approach entirely, a shift followed by a second-place finish at the Canadian GP and a victory in Catalunya.
Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, took the opposite stance to his teammate, insisting the simulator “works very well” for his needs. The same appears true for Piastri, who told MotorsportWeek that he relies on the tool to gather key race data.
“I find it useful. I also grew up in a different generation compared to Lewis. Of course, simulators have been around for a long time, but I understand they aren’t for everyone,” he began. “With the current generation of cars being so complex, I find it quite helpful to have a functional simulator running, both for myself and for the team.”
“But everyone is different. They will never be perfect. They will never be a foolproof tool and they will never replicate driving the real car entirely. You work with the tools you have—or you don’t, if you feel that works better for you,” concluded McLaren’s #81.
Formula 1 is currently on summer break. The series resumes 2026 season action from August 21 to 23 with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
