Lewis Hamilton conceded that Ferrari is running its SF-25 challenger “higher than we would like” at the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.
Hamilton has seemingly been unable to escape ride height trouble throughout the ground effect F1 era.
His last three seasons with Mercedes were continually plagued by ride height adjustments as the Brackley-based outfit struggled to nail performance, and last time out in China, he was disqualified for excessive plank wear.
With low ride heights crucial to find performance, the admission could go some way to explaining Hamilton’s below-par finish of eighth in Qualifying at Suzuka.
“Yes, we are running higher than we would like, but I don’t know if everyone is in the same boat in that respect,” Hamilton told Sky Sports.
“Particularly, after the last race, we’re higher than we want to be. It’s usually the knock-on effect from a weekend like we had before.
“For me, we went in different directions with the setup, and for me, I had a lot of understeer and just couldn’t dial it out throughout qualifying.
Speaking to select media, including Motorsport Week, Hamilton talked up the performance of his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc, who qualified fourth after a ‘personal breakthrough.’
“Charles did an amazing lap today,” Hamilton said.
“I mean, really, really well done to him. Maybe he outperformed the car.
“From my side, maybe [I didn’t] get everything that was needed from the car.”
Hamilton relishing rain to recover from ‘not great’ Suzuka qualifying
In conversation with Sky, Hamilton admitted that “P8 is not great, but I was happy to get into Q3, obviously.
“Really tight battle out there with everyone, I just didn’t get great laps in Q3.”
But there’s hope on the horizon for Hamilton in the form of the famous Suzuka weather, which is poised to be changeable on Sunday.
Rain is forecast for race day in Japan, and Hamilton, who has a history of stunning accomplishments in the wet throughout his career, is relishing a weather-assisted opportunity to make amends for qualifying.
“I’m excited, I genuinely love the rain,” he said.
“It’s going to be tricky, but usually when you have a qualifying like I just had, you hope it’s going to rain. So I hope that it stays.”
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