Lewis Hamilton Admits Mercedes Outpaces Ferrari After Disappointing….red more
Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged that Mercedes is currently faster than Ferrari, following another underwhelming performance at the start of the Formula 1 season. Despite his experience and skill, the seven-time world champion was unable to make any significant headway in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, finishing in seventh place after starting from eighth.
Hamilton’s race in Japan was far from impressive, as he could only manage to move past Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar during the race. His teammate at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, fared better by qualifying fourth and finishing the race in the same position. Meanwhile, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli completed the race in fifth and sixth place, respectively. This outcome highlights the current performance gap between the two teams, with Mercedes holding a clear advantage.
The Suzuka circuit, known for its narrow and difficult overtaking opportunities, presented a challenging scenario for Hamilton. Despite being in close proximity to the Mercedes drivers throughout the race, Hamilton found himself unable to apply pressure on his former team. The Ferrari SF-25, which Hamilton was driving, lacked the pace necessary to challenge Mercedes, even though the latter’s drivers were also unable to get past Leclerc. This scenario underscored the stark difference in performance between the two teams.
Speaking to the media, including RacingNews365, Hamilton was candid about the situation, stating that Mercedes had superior speed at the moment. “Mercedes are faster than us, which is why you saw them so close to Charles,” he explained. “They just have more pace than us at the moment.” Hamilton’s comments highlighted how the Mercedes cars were simply quicker, especially in certain sections of the track, which made it impossible for him to keep up or even put pressure on the competitors ahead.
Reflecting on his own performance during the race, Hamilton was frank about the limitations of his car. He found that he could not extract any more from his SF-25, despite his best efforts. Finishing over 10 seconds behind Antonelli, Hamilton admitted that even if he had qualified higher up the grid, it would have made little difference in terms of his race position. “I was [at my] maximum today. I didn’t have anything else in the car,” Hamilton said, indicating that there was no more performance to be found within the Ferrari.
The British driver further explained that the key to success in the race was starting from a good position in qualifying. Due to the performance issues at the rear of the car, overtaking was not an easy task, and starting from a higher position on the grid could have potentially led to a worse outcome. “With the kind of performance happening at the rear of the car this weekend, qualifying position was key. I think I probably would have been overtaken by the Mercedes if I was any further [forward],” Hamilton added. This statement highlighted the fact that even with a better starting position, the car’s performance limitations would have likely still hindered his ability to challenge for a better result.
The 2025 season continues to be a challenging one for Ferrari, with the team struggling to keep up with the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull. Hamilton’s comments reflect the growing frustration within Ferrari as they continue to fall behind their competitors in terms of speed and overall race performance. Despite the setbacks, Hamilton remains optimistic about his abilities and the team’s future potential, although the current performance gap presents significant challenges.
With the season still ongoing, Hamilton’s assessment serves as a reality check for Ferrari fans, with Mercedes currently enjoying a stronger performance advantage. As the championship progresses, it remains to be seen if Ferrari can find a way to close the gap and mount a serious challenge to Mercedes and Red Bull, or if they will continue to struggle in the face of sti
ff competition.
