Source:REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
[Saba Sports News] After FP1 at the Japanese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton unusually used the team radio to voice his dissatisfaction with the car’s condition — the line “I have no confidence in this car” quickly became a focal point. Compared with the gradually improving form shown over the previous two rounds, the seven-time champion encountered clear resistance at Suzuka. In FP1 and FP2 Hamilton was only sixth on both occasions and failed to make the top five. Compared with his podium finish at the last race, those results were clearly disappointing. More importantly, he struggled to build a sense of control over the car while driving, a point that came across very directly on the radio. In a post-session interview Hamilton admitted the feeling was similar to what he experienced during certain phases last season. Suzuka demands extremely high car balance, especially through the high-speed corner combinations, where drivers need sufficient confidence in rear stability — precisely the area his car was lacking most. He said the car tended to step out at crucial moments, preventing him from pushing to the limit in the way his rivals could.
The writer believes Hamilton’s issues are more about setup than overall performance. If the team follows up after the session with data analysis and simulator work to find solutions, the situation should improve.