Lewis Hamilton has taken the unusual step of volunteering his services to Pirelli to test the manufacturer’s tyres in France on Thursday.
Hamilton has never been afraid to admit how much he dislikes taking part in testing but after overtaking Sebastian Vettel in the drivers’ championship at Monza on Sunday he has taken on extra work to aid his pursuit of a fourth world title.
The 32-year-old Briton has struggled with the tyres in several races this season — particularly in Russia in late April when he trailed home in fourth, more than 36 seconds behind his team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who won the race, and Monaco at the end of May, when Vettel extended his lead to 25 points — and has been unable to