The number of hours a driver spends in the simulator plays a huge role in preparing for a Formula 1 Grand Prix ahead of the race. For this, the members of the most valued grid in the world spend most of their time at the team’s facilities to work on the simulator, although some privileged people can do something similar from home.
Now one of them is Sebastian Vettel , who is allowed to practice from home after Aston Martin set up a “unique” simulator system at the German’s estate.
Working with this type of equipment, which is normally found in a team’s factory, can make it difficult for drivers to stay on schedule for sim days, especially given the travel and time constraints associated with the sport.
Vettel took notice of this ahead of last season’s Saudi Grand Prix, and was unable to take advantage of the opportunity to spend some time in the simulator prior to the race at the new Jeddah circuit.
Aston Martin and the four-time champion decided to build a simulator for the 2021 season, which once finished arrived at the German’s house.
This instrument stands out because it includes physical parts of the 2021 Aston Martin vehicle, the AMR21 , with elements such as the racing seat, headrest and seat belts. Practically the entire cockpit is in the residence of the former Red Bull and Ferrari driver.
In addition, the simulator has three screens, as a version with only two has been shown to create an unrealistic sense of vision, so this design gives Vettel a more realistic horizon behind the wheel.
Discussions and research on the project began about a year ago, and the simulator build process began in July. Just two months later, in September, the simulator was ready for installation at Vettel’s home.
With this machine, the German driver will be able to schedule his own simulator sessions before each race. It’s also a sign that Aston Martin believes in the Heppenheimer’s commitment to getting as much performance as possible.
