Lewis Hamilton: Early 2017 tyre tests 'waste of time'

Lewis Hamilton believes testing the prototype 2017 Formula 1 tyres with modified cars last year would have been a 'waste of time' because of the differences to this year's machinery.

Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull provided modified 2015 cars designed to simulate the performance of this year's faster breed of F1, to allow Pirelli to prepare its new, bigger tyres for '17.

While Sebastian Vettel carried out much of Ferrari's testing, Hamilton pulled out of his only run for Mercedes in Abu Dhabi last year early feeling unwell, having missed a previously scheduled test due to a sore foot.

When asked by Autosport if Vettel's Australian Grand Prix victory, in a race where Mercedes struggled to get on top of the tyres, could have been down to the German doing more of the mule-car running, Hamilton dismissed the suggestion.

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Lewis Hamilton in Melbourne

Image credit: Reuters

"I'm so glad I didn't do that testing, because the car is so different," said Hamilton ahead of this weekend's Chinese GP.

"I did a few laps in the Abu Dhabi test in the 2015 car and it was so much different to this car.

"It would have been a waste of my time, I'm glad I didn't do it. It made no difference.

"The fact is the [mule] car had so much less downforce and it was lighter than the car we have today, so it wouldn't have put the tyres in the same window.

Lewis Hamilton

Image credit: AFP

"The stuff I would have learned then, I would have to undo it and learn again."

While Vettel said he could not be certain of the impact of carrying out the tests, he believes opportunities to drive outside of F1 weekends should be taken.

"I am happy to drive the car, there's always something to learn, so the days with Pirelli, they also helped me," said Vettel.

"The reason why I am happy to do it is because I love driving.

"When there is an opportunity to test, even though testing can be boring - you are driving.

"That's better than sitting on a bike to be fit to drive the car.

Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) - GP of Australia 2017

Image credit: AFP

"Track time is limited. I cannot understand why you would reject it."

Hamilton added that Mercedes has learned from its problems in Australia, although he said it is not a straightforward situation to fix.

"We've taken a lot from the race so we have a better understanding of the tyres and why we were in the scenario we were in," he said.

"We're conscious of that scenario now.

"We don't have the answer for it because it's dependent on weather conditions, but we can be more reactive to it now."

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