Hamilton's Sim Strategy, Binotto on Sainz, McLaren's 1000th Livery: This Week's F1 News
Summary
Lewis Hamilton likely won't use Ferrari sim often, Binotto says Sainz ignored father's advice on Audi, and McLaren unveils a special livery for its 1000th race as Monaco GP week begins.
With the Monaco Grand Prix week kicking off, three key stories emerged Monday. Lewis Hamilton clarified his Ferrari simulator plans, Mattia Binotto shed light on Carlos Sainz's Audi negotiations, and McLaren revealed a special livery for its 1000th race milestone.
Why it matters:
These updates provide insight into driver-team dynamics, behind-the-scenes decision-making, and a historic celebration just as the season's most iconic race approaches.
The details:
- Hamilton's Simulator: After his podium in Canada, Hamilton confirmed he will "probably not" use Ferrari's simulator often for race preparation going forward. He left the door open for occasional correlation work to ensure consistency between virtual and real-world feel.
- Sainz's Move: Former Audi F1 boss Mattia Binotto claimed that Carlos Sainz went against his father's advice when choosing Williams over Audi for 2025. Sainz Sr. has a long association with Audi, but Binotto says the driver "made his own choice."
- McLaren Livery: To mark 1000 races in F1, McLaren will run a tweaked MCL40 livery at Monaco and Spain featuring the number '1000' and milestone references. All living McLaren race winners have been invited to a special grid celebration on Thursday.
- Other Headlines: Williams gave F2 driver Laurens van Hoepen a private test and is considering adding him to its junior program. Kimi Antonelli warned that the full benefit of Mercedes' recent upgrades is yet to come, a potentially ominous sign for rivals.
Original Article :https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-hamilton-ferrari-change-binotto-carlos-sainz...