Lewis Hamilton made a rare trip to Mercedes’ factory to use their simulator ahead of Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion trails Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 18 points going into the second race in Spielberg and is desperate to try everything to end his four-round winless streak. Pressure is mounting on Hamilton, with former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso backing Verstappen to win the title, but Hamilton said: ‘We are not even halfway through the season. Red Bull are continuing to take steps forward but I cannot get tied in that negative bubble of worrying. I will put all my energy into being as prepared as I can be.

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