Lewis Hamilton struck a somber tone after the qualifying session for the Japanese GP. Ferrari, which initially seemed fast enough to challenge Mercedes at Suzuka, would still have a significant gap to the German leaders according to the seven-time world champion. Hamilton could only manage the sixth fastest time and had to watch – partly due to the complex energy management at Suzuka – once again as his former team set the benchmark.
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Overall, Hamilton was not dissatisfied with his own performance, especially considering the difficult free practice sessions on Friday. “I would say it was okay,” he responded to the media in the paddock. “Yesterday I struggled a bit, but today went much better. Q1 was okay, and after that it kept getting better, but we are still miles behind Mercedes,” he admitted somberly. “I’m getting the best out of it, but it’s not good enough at the moment.”
According to Hamilton, energy management is decisive for the pace at Ferrari, but that was exactly what hindered him in Suzuka. “The distribution of power certainly plays a big role,” the Englishman confirmed. “In my first lap I was ahead – at least of Charles (Leclerc, ed.) – and then lost two and a half tenths on the straight, purely because I suffered from oversteer for a moment. It’s not ideal, because it should be that you correct such a mistake and move on, but that’s where these rules fall short.” Leclerc was also frustrated with the driving experience in Suzuka. “It’s a big joke,” he fumed over the team radio, after losing a lot of time on the straights.
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‘Least enjoyable race so far’
Hamilton regrets that the new regulations – especially on a technical circuit like Suzuka – throw such a spanner in the works. The seasoned driver could not push to the limit everywhere. “Especially in the first part you really go to the limit, but as soon as you get to turn six, you can’t really drive on the limit anymore because you have to save the battery,” he explained. “In that respect, this is one of the least enjoyable Grands Prix so far.” For the race, he tempers expectations: “I really have no idea what the racing is like here. Normally there isn’t much overtaking here, so I expect fewer overtakes than in recent races.”
Additionally, Hamilton sees that not only Mercedes, but also McLaren is gaining ground. “They clearly have a good car, and as soon as they get the maximum power out of that Mercedes engine, we will fall behind,” he warned. “We have a big job ahead of us to close the gap. The engine plays a role, but I think the chassis, at least this weekend, is clearly not on the same level as Mercedes’. They are also the fastest in the corners.”
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