Lewis Hamilton's struggles cast shadow on Japanese Grand Prix weekend

Despite a recent podium finish in Singapore, Mercedes found itself trailing behind Ferraris and Lando Norris, all lagging far behind Max Verstappen's pace.

Hamilton's difficulties in finding his rhythm on Suzuka's track were evident, exposing a lack of confidence in his W14 machine. 

"It was a very challenging day for us out there," Hamilton admitted. "I had a lack of confidence in the car, and that contributed to our struggles. It was difficult to find the right balance, and we didn't manage to get on top of it by the end of FP2. 

"The tires were overheating, leaving us quite far off the top of the timing sheets."

Despite Hamilton's impressive record at Suzuka, where he's secured four victories, Red Bull appear to hold the upper hand after the first day of practice. However, the veteran driver remains optimistic about his and Mercedes' prospects for the upcoming qualifying session.

"We know we've got a lot of work to do tonight to pick up the performance," Hamilton remarked. "I do believe we can make improvements, though. We have had similar Fridays this season and come back stronger on Saturday. 

"We will see tomorrow if we have done so again. We will be putting in the effort this evening to give us every chance of getting ourselves higher up the order."

The Japanese Grand Prix, the 17th race of the Formula 1 season, is scheduled to take place at the iconic Suzuka Circuit. Suzuka has been hosting this event since 1987 and has seen 13 World Champions crowned on its challenging track.

Many drivers hold a deep affection for Suzuka due to its demanding elements, including the famous 'S' Curves, the high-speed 130R corner, the tricky Degner Curve, and the renowned crossover. These features continue to make Suzuka a thrilling and demanding circuit that drivers eagerly anticipate conquering in the upcoming race.

 

Read More: Red Bull bounce back: Sergio Perez confident for strong F1 Japanese Grand Prix (planetsport.com)