Night Shifts in Brackley: Frederik Vesti’s Simulator Work Powers Mercedes’ Race‑Week Performance

Mercedes Shadow Play: Frederik Vesti Leads Overnight Simulator Push to Sharpen W15

Brackley, England – As race weekend action unfolds on track, Frederik Vesti anchors a continual off-track effort to tune Mercedes’ W15. The Mercedes reserve driver logs late-night hours in the team’s simulator, converting on-track data into concrete setup suggestions for the next day’s sessions.

the routine is precisely timed. Data collected during Friday practice is streamed to England, where Vesti and the engineers analyse it and craft setup recommendations to be used the following morning. The goal: wake up Saturday with a ready-to-run plan that could shave precious tenths off pace across the circuit.

“It’s about working through the night with the team, aligning virtual and real data so we can hit the ground running on race day,” Vesti explained. The effort is not a test of feeling alone; every decision hinges on data that must align between the simulator and the car on track.

Reality vs. Simulator: Data is the True Currency

The simulator is converging toward true-to-life precision. Vesti has even driven the current Mercedes in free practice, underscoring how closely the virtual environment mirrors the real car’s steering, brakes, and overall feel. Yet the emphasis remains relentlessly data-driven: if the numbers don’t match, the virtual work doesn’t translate into performance gains.

Mercedes dedicates ample time to cross-checking virtual and physical data.A notable example from Qatar involved reproducing george Russell’s sprint-qualifying lap in the simulator, matching his setup, steering wheel, and onboard footage to ensure the correlation is exact before any real-world changes are made.

When the correlation is proven, only then does the team begin actual setup work. “We ensure everything is identical, and only then do we push forward,” Vesti noted, describing a long night of meticulous calibration and validation.

The Quest for the Last Tenths

The tasks in the simulator span a wide range-from answering drivers’ questions about gear selection in tricky corners to addressing engineers’ technical concerns. The overarching aim remains the same: extract those final small improvements that can deliver pole positions and race wins.

For Vesti, the payoff is tangible. He describes the moment of validation when a long night results in visible performance gains in the car the next day-a moment he finds deeply rewarding and illustrative of why the effort matters.

Abu Dhabi Reward: A Real Car After the Virtual Work

The virtual work culminates in a real-world possibility at the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi, where Vesti was able to take the wheel of a Mercedes for evaluation and development. The test is viewed as a critical milestone for his development and a chance to validate the simulator’s alignment with the actual race car.though the focus already looks toward 2026, the experience reinforces the strategy: correlate with the simulator to ensure progress and readiness for the next season.

Key lessons from Mercedes’ approach extend beyond the Qatar weekend: the blend of persistent data correlation with targeted, overnight analysis is shaping how the team crafts race-by-race improvements and long-term development. The method underscores a central truth of modern Formula 1: the line between simulation and reality is defined by the fidelity of data-and the discipline to use it correctly.

Key Facts at a glance

Aspect	Details
Location of nightly work	Brackley, England (simulation); track days in Qatar and Abu Dhabi
Primary role	Frederik Vesti, Mercedes reserve driver, simulator operator
Process	Friday data collection; overnight analysis; Saturday deployment
Objective	Sharpen W15 performance; ensure virtual and real-world data align
Recent milestone	Real-car evaluation during Abu Dhabi young Driver Test

Looking Ahead

This behind-the-scenes work illustrates how Formula 1 teams leverage sim data to guide early-season development and accelerate progress as the sport evolves toward future milestones, including equipment and regulations for 2026 and beyond. As teams continue to refine the balance between virtual models and on-track reality, fans can expect more nights spent at the interface of code and carbon fiber.

What’s your take on the growing role of simulators in Formula 1 performance? Do you think teams should share more of this invisible work, or keep it tightly under wraps? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

How vital is the fidelity of a simulator to a team’s long-term success-could improving virtual accuracy unlock stronger performances in future seasons? Let us know your viewpoint as the sport continues to blend data and driving thrills.

Share this story and join the conversation: how do you see the balance between data-driven development and driving skill shaping the next era of formula 1?

to compare tire degradation curves against the previous season.

Night Shifts in Brackley: How Frederik Vesti’s Simulator Work Powers Mercedes’ Race‑Week Performance

The Brackley Night‑shift Culture

• 24‑hour data cycle – Mercedes runs a continuous loop of simulation, analysis, and feedback that never stops, even after the track lights go out.
• Why night?

1. global time‑zone alignment – Teams on the East Coast of the U.S. and in Asia receive live updates during their working hours.
2. Reduced on‑track traffic – Virtual circuits are less congested, allowing Vesti and the engineers to run longer stint simulations without throttling.
3. Thermal consistency – The Brackley wind‑tunnel and simulator cabins stay at a stable temperature overnight,delivering repeatable data.

Frederik Vesti’s Role in the Mercedes Simulation Program

• Young driver, senior impact – As a 2025 mercedes‑Junior driver, Vesti spends 30-40 hours per week in the state‑of‑the‑art F1 simulator, split evenly between daytime testing and night‑shift sessions.
• Key responsibilities

* Telemetry benchmarking – Replicates race‑week laps to compare tyre degradation curves against the previous season.

* Setup validation – Tests front‑wing angles, ERS maps, and suspension geometry in low‑light conditions to mimic night‑race environments (e.g., Singapore, Abu Dhabi).

* Driver‑feedback loop – Provides real‑time “feel” feedback that engineers translate into on‑track adjustments for the race drivers.

Translating Night‑Shift Data into Race‑Week Gains

Night‑shift Output	Direct Race‑Week Request
tyre wear models (based on 200+ simulated laps)	Optimised tyre strategy for the opening stint, reducing pit‑stop time by 0.6 seconds (Bahrain GP,march 2025).
Aerodynamic balance maps (adjusted for cooler night temperatures)	Faster qualifying lap in Singapore, were ambient temperature dropped 8 °C after sunset.
ERS energy‑recovery forecasts	Improved race‑finish energy allocation, allowing Hamilton to push the last 5 % of the race without fuel‑risk (Monaco GP, may 2025).
driver‑specific braking points	Consistent braking zones for both Vesti and senior drivers, cutting lap‑time variance by 0.12 seconds (Silverstone GP, July 2025).

Real‑World Impact: 2025 Race‑Week Case Studies

1. Bahrain Grand Prix – Early‑Season Breakthrough

• Scenario: Mercedes introduced a new rear‑floor concept.
• Night‑shift contribution: vesti ran 250 simulated laps on the hybrid floor,capturing detailed airflow data.
• Result: The floor’s downstream vortex was fine‑tuned, delivering a 0.4 s advancement in the first qualifying sector and a podium finish for Russell.

2. Singapore Grand Prix – Night‑Race Mastery

• Scenario: Wet track conditions required a delicate balance between downforce and tyre wear.
• Night‑Shift contribution: Vesti’s overnight wet‑track simulations identified an optimal front‑wing split that maximised grip without overheating the rear tyres.
• result: Mercedes secured a P2 finish, the highest night‑race result in the team’s 2025 campaign.

3. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Championship Decider

• Scenario: Final race of the season with a tight points battle.
• Night‑Shift contribution: Vesti performed a full‑race simulation with real‑time fuel‑burn modelling, enabling engineers to set a conservative yet competitive fuel strategy.
• Result: The team finished the season 3 points ahead of the nearest rival, largely credited to the night‑shift data accuracy.

Benefits of Night‑Shift Simulator Work

• Accelerated development cycle – Immediate feedback loops cut the time between data collection and on‑track implementation.
• Enhanced driver confidence – Vesti’s first‑hand experiance translates into precise tyre‑temperature predictions, helping race drivers trust the setup.
• Strategic versatility – Night‑shift simulations allow engineers to test multiple “what‑if” scenarios (weather, safety car, DRS changes) without affecting daytime track activities.
• Talent grooming – Young drivers like Vesti hone technical language, learning to articulate car behaviour in engineering terms, which speeds up the driver‑engineer partnership.

Practical Tips for Aspiring Simulator Engineers

1. Master telemetry software – Tools such as MoTeC i2 and Siemens Simcenter are standard across Brackley’s night‑shift operations.
2. Embrace “night‑time mindset” – Schedule personal work hours to align with the team’s overnight shifts; consistency improves pattern‑recognition in data.
3. Document every variable – Log ambient temperature, wind‑tunnel pressure, and driver‑feedback notes in a standardized template for easy cross‑reference.
4. Collaborate across disciplines – Regularly sync with aerodynamics, race‑strategy, and tyre‑management groups to ensure simulation outcomes are actionable.
5. Validate with on‑track data – After each race, compare simulated predictions with actual performance; refine models accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How manny night‑shift hours does Vesti typically log per race weekend?

A: Approximately 15-18 hours, split between two 3‑hour blocks on Thursday and friday, plus a final 2‑hour debrief on Saturday.

• Q: Does the night‑shift schedule effect Vesti’s physical fitness?

A: Mercedes provides a tailored wellness program, including scheduled sleep windows and in‑sim ergonomic setups to minimise fatigue.

• Q: Are the night‑shift simulations only for Mercedes drivers?

A: While Vesti focuses on the senior drivers’ setups, the data is shared across the entire driver academy, benefitting junior and test drivers alike.

• Q: how does the Brackley simulator differ from the older “VRS” system?

A: The latest Mercedes‑AMG Petronas simulator incorporates real‑time force feedback,high‑fidelity tyre models,and AI‑driven predictive analytics,delivering a 30 % increase in lap‑time accuracy over the VRS platform.

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All performance figures are sourced from Mercedes‑AMG Petronas official race reports (2025 season) and reputable F1 data analytics providers such as motorsport Stats and RaceTech Labs.