Lewis Hamilton faced a challenging qualifying session at Suzuka, revealing the aftermath of adjustments made by Ferrari.
- After being disqualified in China, Hamilton confirmed that Ferrari raised the SF-25’s ride height, affecting its performance.
- A technical breach in China left Ferrari with a sensitive setup, impacting Hamilton’s performance in Japan.
- Despite reaching Q3, Hamilton ended up in eighth, trailing behind his teammate and the pole-sitter.
- Hamilton is hopeful for rain during the race, a condition he enjoys and sees as an opportunity.
Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying session at Suzuka was fraught with difficulty, as he dealt with the consequences of necessary changes made to Ferrari’s setup. The alterations were a direct response to his disqualification at the previous race in China, where his car was found to have excessive skid block wear. This forced Ferrari to raise the car’s ride height, a compromise that affected its aerodynamic efficiency.
The breach of Article 3.5.9 of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations indicated Ferrari’s car is particularly sensitive to ride height changes. Bernie Collins, a former Aston Martin strategist, suggested that Ferrari’s 2025 car might have a narrower optimal ride height window compared to others. This means a small deviation in ride height can significantly affect the car’s performance.
At Suzuka, Hamilton’s efforts to move past the disappointment of China were met with limited success. He made it to Q3 but only secured eighth place, more than six-tenths behind Max Verstappen. Hamilton noted that the higher ride height was a ‘knock-on’ from Shanghai, admitting, ‘we are running higher than we would like.’
Hamilton also decided on a different setup from his teammate, Charles Leclerc, which contributed to his struggles. He experienced significant understeer during qualifying and was unable to adjust to it effectively. Despite these challenges, Hamilton appreciated making it to Q3 amid a tight competition, although he acknowledged his laps in Q3 were not ideal.
A forecast of moderate showers offered Hamilton a silver lining. As someone who enjoys racing in wet conditions, Hamilton expressed his excitement about the potential for rain during the race. He remarked, ‘when you have a qualifying like I’ve just had, you hope for rain.’
Sky pundit Jacques Villeneuve highlighted how Ferrari’s ride height adjustment complicates the setup and drives the car out of its optimal performance window, making it challenging for drivers like Hamilton to find a comfortable setup. Despite these hurdles, Hamilton remains optimistic, looking to the weather as a possible ally during the race.
Hamilton remains hopeful, looking forward to the race with the potential advantage the rain might bring.
