Lewis Hamilton has backed Mercedes’ decision to split its running between its two drivers on each of the remaining test days this year.
Mercedes switched its testing programme programme after completing an unprecedented 800 kilometres yesterday with Nico Rosberg at the wheel. Rosberg drove the morning session today and Hamilton completed the session, the pair amassing another 749km between them.
“It felt quite long out there today – even though it was only the afternoon session,” said Hamilton afterwards. “We’d spoken about splitting the driving beforehand, so it wasn’t a surprise.”
“I was happy to do full days – but they are long days, so the team felt it best to mix things up to keep us both fresh. I feel great now – but yesterday I was a bit sore.”
“It’s a bit like going to the gym when you haven’t been for ages. If you do a hard workout straight away, you’ll be in pain afterwards. For your neck in particular, it doesn’t matter how hard you train during the winter, driving just hits it in a different way that you can’t really simulate.”
Hamilton admitted he was pleased to break up the long periods of running. “It is quite tedious, too, going round and round all day,” he said. “It’s not like a race, where you’ve got a strategy and you’re competing – fighting the clock and your opponents.”
“But testing never has been the most exciting. I think in my younger days, back in Formula Renault for example, it was a big buzz. But by the time you’ve spent ten years in F1, it just becomes the norm.”
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lockup (@)
24th February 2016, 18:54
Can’t understand why the headline isn’t “Driver thinks testing is the norm”?
:)
Neel Jani (@neelv27)
24th February 2016, 18:56
Forget the rest of the article, I can’t believe Lewis has spent 9 years in the sport and is starting his 10th year. Time flies indeed!
But on a different note, I understand where he is coming from. Drivers are never big fans of testing and especially when you break records after records of millage covered, it does become a bit too heavy.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
24th February 2016, 19:02
@neelv27 they are not fans of testing when their car is running so well. But when they need to catch up, they are crying loud to be able to test during the year. How many times have we heard the words: “football players practice during the season, we don’t and it’s mad”?
Neel Jani (@neelv27)
24th February 2016, 19:17
@fer-no65 surely but he is making a different point here. He is emphasizing on the fact of physical and mental drain that it takes on covering 750+ kms in a day for a driver.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
24th February 2016, 20:21
@neelv27 yeah but the only way to solve that is to add more testing days so they don’t HAVE to run those massively long programs each day because it’s the only time they have. 450 laps in 3 days it’s just mad.
Neel Jani (@neelv27)
24th February 2016, 20:26
Agreed @fer-no65 but fans’ opinions fell on the deaf ears like the rule changes today.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
24th February 2016, 20:36
@neelv27 But… but… Horner said yesterday that they had the chance to do something for the fans!
Are you telling me they don’t care at all about us?!?! you’ll make me cry! :(
Neel Jani (@neelv27)
24th February 2016, 20:47
One thing I’ve learnt in the last 15 years of following this sport, ‘the decision makers know nothing!’
Mikeybgaming
24th February 2016, 19:40
This is his 9th year… Lewis started in 2007
Neel Jani (@neelv27)
24th February 2016, 20:46
Count again! :)
Mikeybgaming
24th February 2016, 23:10
Oops! I don’t feel like an idiot much! :)
IJW (@)
24th February 2016, 20:49
No, he is right. He is in his tenth year in F1;
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Michal (@michal2009b)
24th February 2016, 19:45
@neelv27 – Alonso is a fan of testing for example. He once suggested to shorten the calendar and place more test days.
Neel Jani (@neelv27)
24th February 2016, 20:06
@michal2009b Well that’s not the point is it? It’s more about insane millage in a day rather than more no of test days. It’s just a simple point that he is making.
Michal (@michal2009b)
24th February 2016, 23:52
@neelv27 – yeah it’s true but you said drivers have never been big fans of testing so I simply noted that Alonso is actually one of the few who like it ;)
Karthik M
25th February 2016, 2:49
We’ll ask his opinion when he does 750 kms in a day. :D
Gavin Campbell
25th February 2016, 15:58
Alonso would be bouncing off the walls with excitment if that McLaren Honda managed 750 kms in a day!!
Broke84 (@broke84)
24th February 2016, 20:13
I think it is more the fact that drivers wish for testing for car development, but probably with the test driver. The race driver wants to race not test
Blackmamba (@blackmamba)
24th February 2016, 20:19
Another productive day for Mercedes. However, I do hope it’s not a case of motivation for Lewis since he has already achieved his lifetime ambition of 3 WDCs. Yes it’s tedious, but engineers love this kind of data for development direction (purposes) so there is nothing for it but to keep on keeping on!
pSynrg (@psynrg)
25th February 2016, 14:19
@blackmamba I think it’s also indicative that Mercedes’s latent performance is still at least half a second, and Lewis’s only true rival is again just his team mate…
2face
24th February 2016, 20:45
If it’s tedious, why not give the car to a youngster?
David (@wushumr2)
25th February 2016, 17:13
Because Mercedes’ “youngster” is driving for Manor this year. I don’t know if they’ve even nominated a new person as their test driver.
Aficionado9
24th February 2016, 21:05
Ahh… some peoples’ boredom is sitting at the same desk every day, wearing the same ties and watching the same people deteriorate. Lewis Hamilton’s is sitting in an F1 car doing testing, while still hitting speeds and taking corners faster than most of us will ever hope to experience. LOL! I wonder if skydive instructors ever think ‘ah bugger… another jump’, dropping through the air, yawning and nodding off.
dragoll (@dragoll)
24th February 2016, 21:46
+1
Shimks (@shimks)
25th February 2016, 11:57
I’m one of the deteriorating ones. It’s like I’m slowly melting into my office chair, becoming one with it.
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
25th February 2016, 1:34
Oh dear poor Lewis isn’t feeling “blessed”.
Ed Marques (@edmarques)
25th February 2016, 2:47
I think some didn’t read the full article
Johannes (@johanness)
25th February 2016, 3:40
Still, I imagine Vettel would utilize/enjoy every minute of his time in the car rather than moan about tedium and a sore neck.
yuriy
25th February 2016, 4:39
Why not to use test drivers?
Illusive (@illusive)
25th February 2016, 6:35
Splitting the day is a better idea, the team gets the same amount of laps and data anyway.
q85
25th February 2016, 7:15
perhaps he should check out the testing schedule during the 90s!!!
He certainly would never of considered a Ferrari drive with the amount they used to test!
MacLeod (@macleod)
25th February 2016, 8:20
It’s almost if Hamilton doesn’t have the drive to go full out. I wonder if this is his last season. If Rosberg is champion it’s here we noticed it.
Stubborn Swiss (@stubbornswiss)
25th February 2016, 12:36
Mercedes makes a decision to split driver running for the rest of the test days. Lewis Hamilton is happy with said decision and backs it.
How does this infer that Lewis Hamilton ‘doesn’t have the drive to go full out’, pray tell?
pSynrg (@psynrg)
25th February 2016, 14:22
@stubbornswiss Duh!
You’ve obviously missed the directive that states anything Lewis Hamilton may say about anything, can be misconstrued and/or twisted to suit whatever agenda someone wishes to promote at Hamilton’s expense.
Stubborn Swiss (@stubbornswiss)
25th February 2016, 17:28
@psynrg Yeah. I obviously missed it!
Johan
27th February 2016, 15:22
:D
liam clarke (@clarkster117)
25th February 2016, 12:13
i love this driver
Ed
25th February 2016, 17:09
Well, being on his position he can complain. His car never fails. It’s so reliable the team needed to give a break to the drivers because the car won’t ever give up.
If he were driving a car powered by a Honda unit, the boredom would be the last of his worries.
lockup (@)
25th February 2016, 22:17
There are reasons he’s not driving a Honda. He’s not exactly complaining either.