For the Japanese Grand Prix, Ferrari had a timid start, contrasting with its recent performances. The free practice sessions highlighted confidence issues among the drivers, particularly Lewis Hamilton, who, in a fierce battle for the top spots, acknowledged unsettling feelings reminiscent of a less glorious period.
A Ferrari Lagging on the Japanese Circuit
After shining as the second force during the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix, Ferrari began the Japanese GP at Suzuka with lackluster performances. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton positioned themselves in fifth and sixth places, trailing seven and eight tenths behind the pole position. While this gap may seem relatively small in absolute terms, it is against a McLaren that is significantly faster than the SF-26, revealing its weaknesses.
Images from the free practice sessions revealed a car less docile than hoped, with rear-end dropouts clearly affecting the drivers’ confidence. At the end of the second free practice session, Hamilton expressed his discomfort: “I’m slow because I don’t trust the car.”
Disturbing Echoes from the Past
The British driver also shared his concerns during an interview with international media, including Motorsport.com. “The car is generally OK, but it’s just not fast enough at the moment, and I think it’s just a matter of balance.” This statement reveals deeper issues within the Maranello team.
The most troubling aspect remains the comparison he made with the feelings experienced during the year 2025. “I think [today’s difficulties] are just related to how this car is set up. There are similarities with the feeling from last year, so we’re working on that.” The prospect of returning to such disappointing form raises questions about the team’s ability to turn things around.
A Crucial Adjustment Job Ahead
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
When asked about the possibility of reducing this gap if Ferrari could optimize its settings, the seven-time world champion emphasized another key factor: energy. “Hard to say. In the end, there’s a lot of time to gain on the straights; for now, we’re four tenths down at the entry of turn #1 compared to McLaren.”
Hamilton thus highlights that better energy deployment could make all the difference. “I’m sure we can do better at that level. I also think it’s possible to extract more performance from the car if we can find the right settings.”
A Situation Anticipated by Ferrari
Diego Ioverno, Ferrari’s sporting director, tempered concerns by stating that this gap was in line with initial forecasts. “The gap is more or less what we expected, and it’s also quite consistent with what we observed during the first two races, especially on the short stints.”
However, he remains aware that the team needs to progress. “We will do everything we can, analyzing the data and trying to resolve some small issues we encountered.”
He also highlighted the difficulty of the track with its new surface complicating tire behavior. “A key factor would be to ensure that the tires work from the first lap.” This underscores the additional challenges Ferrari faces on this demanding circuit.
In Summary
- Ferrari starts timidly in the Japanese GP.
- Hamilton mentions confidence issues and troubling memories from 2025.
- The gap with McLaren is noticeable on the straights.
- Ioverno believes the delay was predictable but calls for improvement.
- The new track surface complicates tire performance.
