Lewis Hamilton calls for an end to data sharing between team-mates

Lewis Hamilton has called for an end to data sharing between team-mates at Mercedes as he feels it provides them with an unfair advantage.

Mercedes, as with most teams, has a policy of sharing drivers data internally, which means one driver can see exactly where the other is braking, accelerating, what lines they're taking and more.

Hamilton believes that's unfair and says drivers should have to rely on their own talent, rather than their team-mates.

"I go out, do my laps, do all my homework," said Hamilton during a UBS Q&A. "The other guy can see everything. I have asked my team. I don't want to see my team mate's [data].

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"I don't feel it's fair that he brings his A-game and I should be able to study his A-game on a computer.

"The other driver probably naturally may be able to do more or less than you are. But because of this data they can just copy you. 'Oh he's braking five metres later there, I'll go out and I'll try braking five metres later'."

Hamilton says a team should be confident to let their drivers go out and race based on their "raw talent" alone, as that's what they've hired them for, and if they can't find the performance without the help of their team-mates data, then they shouldn't be racing in F1.

"That's what I loved about go-karting; you weren't able to do that and that was where just your raw talent is able to shine.

"I think it should be 'you hired me because I am the best, because I've studied, because I've won every class that I've been in, I've not missed one in terms of winning'," he added.

"And you're hiring whoever the next person is because they've hopefully won some things along the way as well and you're hiring them for their ultimate skill all round.

"They should be able to go out there on their own and find it all themselves, without you.

"If I can't do it on my own then I'm not good enough and I don't deserve to be there. And there are some drivers that don't."