Last Updated on March 30 2026, 4:58 pm
Record world champion finishes sixth in Japan – Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, was left searching for answers after a frustrating Japanese Grand Prix. Despite briefly running in podium contention, he finished only sixth. The Ferrari driver appeared perplexed after the race at Suzuka, having started strongly before fading in the closing stages.
“It was pretty bad in the end because I was in third place and ended up in sixth,” Hamilton admitted. “I just need to understand where we lost the power, especially in the second stint.”
It was a race that promised much, but ultimately exposed Ferrari’s familiar weaknesses, particularly with regard to their outright pace over a full race distance.
Strong start fades into familiar frustration
Hamilton’s race initially appeared to be unfolding perfectly. Running in third place during the early and middle phases, he looked well positioned to challenge for a podium finish. However, as the race entered its decisive phase, his pace dropped off noticeably.
The loss of performance during the second stint proved decisive. While his rivals found another gear, Hamilton was forced to defend rather than attack, slipping down the order as the laps ticked away.
His Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, capitalised on his stronger late-race pace to climb to third place, even overtaking Hamilton on lap 42, which highlighted the contrasting trajectories of their races.
As far as Hamilton was concerned, the contrast only deepened the confusion.
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Searching for answers under new regulations
Still adapting to Formula 1’s evolving technical landscape, Hamilton suggested that he has yet to fully unlock the performance of his machinery under the current rules.
“I don’t quite understand it,” he explained. “I’m pushing hard and managing the car as instructed. Today, I simply lacked a bit of performance.”
This is a revealing admission from a driver with his level of experience. While he remains one of the sport’s most complete competitors, the fine margins of modern Formula 1 mean that even minor misunderstandings regarding car behaviour or energy deployment can have significant consequences.
His reference to ‘where we lost the power’ hints at potential issues with energy management or straight-line performance — areas that can be particularly challenging at a circuit like Suzuka.
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Mercedes lead the way as Ferrari chase
Up front, Mercedes dominated, despite a determined challenge from McLaren, with teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli securing victory and continuing his remarkable rise. This result further underlines Mercedes’ early-season advantage over Ferrari.
After three races, Ferrari are second in the constructors’ standings with 90 points, but already trail Mercedes by a significant margin of 45 points.
This gap reflects a clear performance deficit, one that Ferrari are keenly aware of as the development race intensifies.
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Vasseur said, “Everyone will bring upgrades.”
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur struck a measured tone after the race, acknowledging the positives as well as the clear need for improvement.
“It was a good stint, good battles, and ultimately a good result for us,” he said. “We know we have a performance deficit and we need to improve.”
Vasseur also urged caution when discussing upcoming upgrades, stressing that Ferrari will not be alone in bringing developments.
“Please don’t misinterpret my statements: everyone will have upgrades. Everyone will have changed their car. Everything will change, it’s a new season.”
He suggested that the budget cap may have constrained Ferrari’s early potential, but made it clear that development will now ramp up across the grid.
A familiar story for Hamilton
While a sixth-place finish still contributes valuable points for Hamilton, it falls short of the expectations of a driver accustomed to fighting at the very front, at least during the days of Mercedes dominance prior to the 2022 regulations, at least.
More concerning is the lack of clarity over what went wrong. In a championship where rivals are rapidly improving, unanswered questions can quickly become costly.
Although Ferrari secured a podium through Leclerc, Hamilton’s race tells a different story, one of untapped potential, lingering uncertainty and a team still searching for the complete package.
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NEXT ARTICLE – F1 qualifying rules slammed by Alonso. “50% of my team…” could drive this car
Its weekend three of the all new Formula One era and time for the Japanese Grand Prix. The iconic Suzuka circuit is hosting its 36th F1 event and over the decades has been the venue for many incredible memorable moments.
Ayrton Senna stalled his McLaren car on the grid in 1988, falling through the field to P14 before an incredible recovery drive in torrential rain to pass Alain Prost for lead in the closing stages of the race to claim his first F1 title.
In an emotional season finale in 1996, Damon Hill became the first son of an F1 champion to claim the title himself, leading from start to finish whilst team mate Jacques Villeneuve suffered a mechanical failure which ended his race.
Alonso: “50% of my team…” can drive this car
Yet arriving at the historic venue in 2026, the paddock talk was less of another electrifying weekend of racing and all about the energy management the drivers are having to deal with under the new FIA regulations. This means the once fearsome challenge of the high speed corners at Suzuka has been neutered with drivers lifting and coasting rather than pushing to the limit.
No longer are the drivers on the limit as they take the Degna turns or R130 given they must drive just under 98% throttle level to ensure the hybrid motor efficiently deploys it energy. Fernando Alonso was critical of the new rules dente the FIA having dropped the maximum level of electrical power deployment from 9MJ to 8MJ.
When asked in the media pen about the challenge of driving at the historic Japanese circuit, the Spaniard was blunt. “It’s gone,” said Alonso. “I told you in Bahrain the chef could drive the car now. Maybe not the chef, but 50% of the team members I think, at least, can drive in Suzuka, because as I said a few times already the high-speed corners now became the charging station for the car.
“So you go slow there, you charge the battery in the high speed and then you have the full power on the straight. So the driver’s skill is not really needed anymore. You just need to…CONTINUE READING THIS STORY
A Brazilian motorsport writer with a background in sports journalism and broadcast reporting, Treze brings cultural insight and on-the-ground knowledge of South American racing. With credentials in communications and journalism, Treze connects today’s Formula 1 with the enduring legacy of Ayrton Senna.
