Hamilton admits 'no confidence' in Ferrari after tricky Suzuka Friday

Lewis Hamilton revealed he had "no confidence" in his Ferrari during Friday practice at the Japanese Grand Prix, describing a tricky balance that felt similar to last year's struggles. While teammate Charles Leclerc also acknowledged a difficult day, Hamilton expressed optimism that the team could find solutions overnight to improve for qualifying and the race.

Why it matters:

Suzuka is one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, exposing any weakness in a car's rear-end stability and driver confidence. For Hamilton and Ferrari, who have shown improved form in 2026, a sudden step back in performance at such a critical track raises questions about the car's consistency and development direction. How they respond overnight will be a key test of their problem-solving capabilities and championship mettle.

The details:

• Hamilton finished sixth in both practice sessions, over a second off the pace in FP2, and radioed his engineer stating, "I am very slow because I have no confidence in the car."
• In debriefs, he pointed to a lack of rear stability, saying, "I had the snaps. I just can’t seem to match the other guys." He noted "some similarities" to the balance issues he experienced in the 2025 car.
• Despite the struggles, Hamilton remained hopeful, citing a "North Star" for the setup and confidence that the team could "find something and get it to a better place" before Saturday.
• Charles Leclerc, who finished just ahead of Hamilton in both sessions, confirmed it was a "more tricky day for us as a team." He indicated their race pace seemed acceptable but highlighted a significant gap in single-lap performance that needs addressing for qualifying.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Ferrari's garage overnight to see if they can decode the data and simulator readings to restore Hamilton's confidence. The focus will be on qualifying performance, with Hamilton vowing to do a "deep dive" to unlock the car's potential. A strong recovery on Saturday is crucial to avoid starting the race on the back foot at a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult. The team's ability to quickly rectify this issue will be a telling indicator of their progress in 2026.