Hamilton more comfortable with old clutch setup - MotorSportsTalk

Lewis Hamilton feels more comfortable after reverting back to the old clutch setup on his Mercedes W06 Hybrid car ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix.

Hamilton has been struggling with race starts since the Spanish Gand Prix back in May when he changed to a new clutch setting, and has won just once in the past four races.

The Briton lost the lead of the race from teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg at the start of the Austrian Grand Prix two weeks ago, citing an issue with his clutch setting for his poor getaway.

Following practice for the British Grand Prix on Friday, Hamilton said that he felt more comfortable after making the switch back to his old clutch setup.

However, he still feels that there is plenty of work to be done as he trailed teammate Nico Rosberg in both practice sessions.

“It’s generally been a good day,” Hamilton said. “Not perfect – and we’ve got some work to do overnight – but the pace is decent. I didn’t have the ideal balance on the long runs and I’ve got a bit of work to do on setup.

“But otherwise it’s all been good. The tires feel strong – it doesn’t take too long to warm them up which is a positive.

“I’ve also gone back on clutch setup which feels really good so far – just like it did in the first few races. So, overall, it’s looking like a positive start.”

Just as he did in Austria, Hamilton said that he felt wary of Ferrari’s practice pace at Silverstone after finishing behind Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel in FP2.

“Ferrari look strong again here and they were right there with us today, so it should be a good battle,” the Briton said.

“Hopefully we’ll find a bit more tomorrow otherwise we could find ourselves in trouble.”

He was, however, encouraged by the support shown by his home fans at Silverstone on Friday who made it to the track in spite of traffic congestion.

“I have to say, the fans have been fantastic this weekend already. The level of support is just incredible – and it’s only Friday! Fortunately the weather has been good so far and I hope it continues that way for everyone out there cheering us on.”

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The IndyCar Series has re-signed NTT as its title sponsor in a multiyear agreement starting in 2024.

NTT, a global information technology and communications company based in Japan, became the series’ title sponsor before the 2019 season after starting as a sponsor of the No. 10 Dallara-Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.

NTT Data (a subsidiary of parent company Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.) will remain the official technology partner of IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Brickyard weekend.

With the extension, an IndyCar spokesman said NTT would become the second-longest title sponsor in series history. The longest title sponsor was PPG from 1980-97 (under the CART sanction of the Champ Car Series).

NTT replaced Verizon, which was IndyCar’s title sponsor from 2014-18 after IZOD from 2010-13.

“NTT is an excellent partner across our enterprise with strong expertise and a deep commitment to our sport,” Penske Corp. chairman and IndyCar owner Roger Penske said in a release. “From Smart Venue technology at the Racing Capital of the World to the reimagined Series mobile application, NTT is transforming the fan experience in new and innovative ways. We look forward to a bright future together.”

NTT has used artificial intelligence-enabled optical detection technology at IMS to provide information to the track’s operations and security teams, helping improve fan traffic flow and safety, the track said.

“IndyCar is a great partner for NTT Data because of our shared commitment to driving innovation, increasing sustainability and delivering amazing experiences,” NTT Data CEO Kaz Nishihata said in a release. “We also appreciate how IndyCar is so diverse, with drivers from 15 different countries, and races that range from short ovals and superspeedways to road and street courses. It’s both an incredible sport and a wonderful example for our world.”

NTT also has been instrumental in helping redesign the IndyCar app and providing more race and driver data for use in NBC Sports’ broadcasts by utilizing 140 data points from every car in the field.

“NTT is fully invested in the development and growth of our sport and has already established a terrific track record in our industry with problem-solving capabilities and access to top talent and tools,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said.

Said NTT Data Services CEO Bob Pryor: “We’re thrilled to continue our collaborations that enhance and expand the fan experience for motorsports and serve as proof points for data analytics, AI, and other innovative digital technologies. For more than a century, this racing series has pioneered innovations making driving safer for everyone, and by continuing this relationship, we will accelerate the pace of innovations and new technologies, particularly related to sustainability that ultimately can benefit organizations, communities and individuals around the world.”

Starting as a Japanese telephone company, NTT grew into a $100 billion-plus tech services giant with U.S. operations based in Plano, Texas.