Hamilton calls Japanese GP 'pretty terrible' after dropping from podium to sixth

Lewis Hamilton described his Japanese Grand Prix as "pretty terrible" after a promising third-place position mid-race unraveled, leaving him to finish a disappointing sixth for Ferrari. The seven-time champion cited a mysterious lack of power as the primary culprit for his drop through the field, which saw him overtaken by teammate Charles Leclerc, Mercedes' George Russell, and McLaren's Lando Norris in the final stint.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's performance struggles and power unit concerns highlight the ongoing challenges Ferrari faces in its quest to consistently challenge at the front. After a podium in China, this setback underscores the team's performance volatility and the significant gap they still need to close against rivals like Mercedes, a point emphasized by Leclerc after the race.

The details:

• Hamilton initially benefitted from a mid-race Safety Car, moving up to third and overtaking George Russell on the restart.
• His race quickly deteriorated as he reported a severe and confusing lack of power, particularly in the second stint, which made him unable to defend or keep pace.
• Hamilton's Confusion: The driver was left searching for answers, stating he was "full gas" but still losing power, prompting a need to investigate if there was a car issue.
• Leclerc's Recovery: Teammate Charles Leclerc provided a brighter spot for Ferrari. Despite also losing out under the Safety Car, he engaged in thrilling battles to finish fourth, just two seconds off the podium.
• Leclerc's Assessment: The Monegasque driver was pragmatic, stating the team extracted the maximum but conceded that Mercedes still holds a "big advantage" in power unit performance, a gap Ferrari cannot immediately change under current regulations.

What's next:

The focus for Ferrari shifts to understanding the root cause of Hamilton's power issues and finding chassis and aerodynamic improvements to mitigate their current engine deficit. All eyes turn to the Miami Grand Prix, the season's second Sprint weekend, where Ferrari will aim for a more cohesive and competitive team performance.