Lewis Hamilton says the performance of Mercedes in the first sector at Suzuka is “hugely encouraging” despite qualifying seventh at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Red Bull secured a one-two result in qualifying but the top eight drivers were covered by under 0.6 seconds, the same gap that separated Max Verstappen from second-placed Oscar Piastri last season. Hamilton was upbeat after Friday practice and remained positive after qualifying, as he feels Mercedes is making significant progress with how his car handles.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1388]
“It’s been a night and day different weekend so far, just in terms of how comfortable I feel in the car,” Hamilton said. “I think we did a really good job over this past week, just the analysis everyone has done at the factory how we can get the car in a sweeter spot. The car’s been much nicer to drive this weekend. And particularly at a track like this where you need a nice balance, this is the nicest it’s felt over the last three years.
“I think last year we were over a second off, I think it was seven tenths today, and I’m not like trying all these random different things, just much more focused on making sensible changes, and I think it’s worked. I was hoping we’d be further ahead, but…
“Hugely, hugely encouraging. Yeah Sector 1 is the best first sector of any circuit as well, and it’s absolutely incredible when the car is where you want it to be. And I can feel exactly where the car is weak, so this is the perfect test track, it exposes always the limitations of the car, and where you need to improve it. So I know when I go to speak with my engineers now where I need to pinpoint what they’ve got to work on, going to take some time.”
Hamilton put less emphasis on the fact he comfortably beat team-mate George Russell given Mercedes’ overall position, with his own ability to push the car closer to its limit being his main takeaway.
“We’re not fighting for a championship, we’re just trying to get the best out of the car so doesn’t make any difference to me,” he said. “I’m just happier with a cleaner qualifying session and a car that I’m starting to feel like I can lean on more, and that’s a real positive.
“The car felt good. I think the last lap I already felt when I went into Turn 1 I had a bit of oversteer on the way in, so I knew already it was not going to be spectacular, I was already down a tenth out of Turn 2. I think I know why that is, but there’s not much more left, I pretty much got everything out of the car, we just need to add performance to it.”