On the sim at home, you can change downforce levels, roll bars, springs, ride heights – you can try all these different things.

My favourite car I drove in the ‚shoot out‘ at Silverstone was the 2016 Mercedes DTM car. I loved every moment in it, the downforce being particularly surprising.

I think sim racing helps. I have improved in areas and do it whenever I need to improve. You don’t feel G-force and those things are probably the biggest things, that and the fear factor which you feel when you drive. Therefore, when I go on to the track I’m better.

F2 cars have downforce; they’re quick. But it’s difficult for your brain and eyes to keep up with everything that’s going on once you’re in an F1 car. You get used to it and you learn to stay calm, because if you react too quickly the opposite will happen. Being more relaxed is when it becomes more natural and controlled.

On the RFactor model that comes with the ‚Pro-Sim,‘ everything is balanced and measured. If you go up on the rear ride height, for example, it changes the airflow and the downforce of the car. You learn by trying different things, which gives you a better idea when you’re on a race weekend.