Mixed Reactions from Hamilton and Leclerc After a….read more
There were mixed reactions from both Mercedes and Ferrari following the qualifying session for the Japanese Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc faced different challenges in Suzuka. While Hamilton was dissatisfied with his P8 result, Leclerc, who qualified in P4, acknowledged that his Ferrari was still lacking overall pace despite an improved setup.
Hamilton’s Struggles and Frustrations
Lewis Hamilton, who has had a challenging season, encountered several issues during the qualifying session. One key moment came during Q2, when he was blocked by Carlos Sainz, an incident that led to a three-place grid drop for the Williams driver. Hamilton voiced his displeasure about the obstruction over the radio, further adding to his frustration.
When he reached Q3, Hamilton’s struggles continued. After a significant slide during his first flying lap, he couldn’t improve on his second attempt and ended up qualifying in P8. This result, he admitted, was not where he had hoped to be. Reflecting on his performance, Hamilton said, “I generally struggled throughout the session. When we reached Q3, I couldn’t improve. I had a big snap of oversteer in the middle sector during my first lap, and on my second lap, I was only down in that sector. So, it wasn’t ideal, and it’s definitely not where I want to be.”
Despite these difficulties, Hamilton remained optimistic about the race. With Suzuka’s unpredictable weather potentially playing a role, he stated, “I’m excited for tomorrow. It still can be fun from where I am.”
Leclerc’s Satisfaction Despite Ferrari’s Performance Limitations
In contrast to Hamilton, Charles Leclerc had a more positive outlook after qualifying in P4. Although he was some distance behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen, Leclerc was pleased with his performance, feeling that he had maximized his Ferrari’s potential. He explained, “This is definitely the best we could get out of it today. On one hand, it’s disappointing because P4 is never what you want to fight for, but on the other hand, I’m quite satisfied with the day, considering the changes we made yesterday.”
Leclerc had made significant adjustments to his car setup in an effort to improve its balance, which had been a persistent issue throughout the season. He noted, “Since the beginning of the year, it hasn’t been exactly where I want it to be, and it’s been really positive so far. We’ve maximized the car’s potential, but we are just lacking overall performance at the moment.”
Leclerc’s Preference for a Dry Race
When asked about his preference for race conditions, Leclerc expressed some caution. Although a wet race could create opportunities, he preferred to test the new setup changes in dry conditions first. “I would like to check the direction I took yesterday with the setup and being very aggressive. I would prefer a dry race, just to see how the changes work,” Leclerc commented.
Looking Ahead to the Race
As the race day approaches, both drivers face different challenges. For Hamilton, starting from P8 means that while he’s not in an ideal position, a strong race performance is still possible—especially with Suzuka’s unpredictable weather and the potential for strategy to play a role. On the other hand, Leclerc, starting in P4, is in a much stronger position to challenge for a podium finish, although he remains aware that Ferrari still has significant work to do to compete with the fastest teams.
Conclusion
In summary, Hamilton’s P8 result was disappointing for the seven-time World Champion, but he remains hopeful for the race, despite his struggles in qualifying. Leclerc, on the other hand, was satisfied with his P4 position and the improvements made to his Ferrari setup, but he also acknowledged that Ferrari still needs to improve its overall performance. With unpredictable weather likely to play a role in the race, both drivers will need to adapt quickly as they prepare for an exciting race day at Suzuka.
