Ferrari is actually quite satisfied with its Friday in Suzuka, even though it has not yet been able to exploit its potential – No chance against McLaren?
The start of the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka was promising for Ferrari, even though the training sessions were repeatedly interrupted by numerous red flags. Lewis Hamilton came in fourth, 0.430 seconds behind, closely followed by Charles Leclerc (+0.472), who only managed seventh place.
Nevertheless, after Friday’s session, the drivers are optimistic that the Scuderia can build on a solid base. Despite the difficult conditions, Leclerc is particularly pleased with his day. “I found it quite positive. I tried so many things today, so it was a very insightful day,” the Monegasque driver explained after the sessions.
However, the constant interruptions made it difficult to set a clean lap. “We haven’t got everything together, but I think the performance is better than it looks on paper,” Leclerc continued. This is a challenge, especially on a track like Suzuka, which requires precise setup.
On top of that, there is a major unknown: the wind. “I think everything we have learned today will be completely different tomorrow due to the big wind changes. That will be a big adjustment, especially on a track like this,” he emphasizes.
It was also an exciting first day of work with the Scuderia in Japan for Lewis Hamilton, who only a few weeks ago joined Ferrari as a newcomer: “It was a really nice day. This track is just incredible – it never fails to inspire you when you drive it,” enthused the Briton.
But despite the positive impressions, there is still work to be done for the team: “We worked through everything, but we still have to find some performance – we’re not the fastest at the moment,” admits Hamilton. However, he is confident that the team can still make progress with the right adjustments. “We have a good base,” he clarifies.
Leclerc: McLaren on another planet
Leclerc, on the other hand, is struggling a little with a lack of driving time. “It was frustrating because I never managed a clean lap – either because of traffic or a red flag, then another and another,” he describes the day’s problems.
Nevertheless, it was a valuable Friday: “We made a lot of changes and it was a good day. I learned a lot about this car today and maybe also understood what I need more of for the upcoming races.”
The Monegasque driver is also carefully analyzing the competition – and has come to a clear conclusion: “We have to be careful, because McLaren seems to be on another planet.” In fact, the Papaya cars had proven to be the measure of all things during the day.
Every kilometer of training helps him: “From weekend to weekend, I become more familiar with the environment and the car – it’s about remembering everything in the cockpit and internalizing the various settings.”
The seven-time world champion emphasizes that he is feeling more and more comfortable in the Ferrari: “I’m trying more, understanding the set-up changes better and slowly getting to the point where I can steer the car in the right direction. I now have a better understanding of the tools at my disposal to get the car in a better position.” His long-term goal is to close the gap with Ferrari – even if McLaren currently seems out of reach in Suzuka.
Hamilton wants to keep learning
Meanwhile, for Hamilton, the focus is still on settling into his new environment. “I didn’t really focus on what the others were doing, but mainly tried to learn as much as possible and continue to grow with the team,” he explains.
