In an impressive display of driving skill, Charles Leclerc outperformed his Ferrari teammate, Lewis Hamilton, during the recent Japanese Grand Prix. Leclerc, who qualified three tenths ahead of Hamilton, maintained his superior position throughout the race, finishing fourth, a clear 13 seconds ahead.
This performance gap has raised concerns within the Ferrari team, as Hamilton revealed a persistent underperforming component on his car. Despite his efforts, he could only manage a seventh-place finish after overtaking Isack Hadjar early in the race. Struggling with performance issues, Hamilton expressed hope for improvements: “We found something on the car that was underperforming for the last three races, so I am hoping when that is fixed, I will start getting better results,” he stated to Sky Sports F1. “I’m losing just over a tenth a lap with this issue we have.”
Hamilton’s setbacks are fueled by the stringent regulations that teams must comply with, notably relating to car height on the track. Ferrari experienced disqualifications at the Chinese Grand Prix because of plank wear for Hamilton and vehicle weight for Leclerc. Although the specifics are unclear, the problem may be connected to running the cars lower to maximize downforce, a common goal under the current F1 car generation.
As teams aim for performance peaks, Hamilton remains hopeful for efficiency from a new component that might resolve these discrepancies. “They [the team] are aware of it and don’t know why [it is happening]. Hopefully, when the new component comes, it will be the same on both cars,” Hamilton added.
Despite the challenges, Hamilton acknowledged the team’s work. “I’m relatively happy with the race pace I had,” he remarked, maintaining a positive outlook on future races. With a deficit persisting between his side of the garage and Leclerc’s, Hamilton admitted, “It’s good to know, and with what I had this was the best result.”
Ferrari’s competitive stance thus far has them trailing McLaren by 76 points in the Constructors’ Championship, a standing that falls short of pre-season expectations. Yet, optimism remains within the team. Leclerc shared his thoughts, “We did a good job with balance and strategy to optimize the result, but it is disappointing when everything perfect only finishes fourth,” he said to Sky Sports F1.
Leclerc highlighted his approach to driving as a step toward more frequent maximization of his car’s performance. “I went in a specific direction with my driving style, and I feel this will help me,” he noted, looking forward to testing its viability at the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix. “If it does, I am confident for the rest of the year,” Leclerc added, cautiously optimistic about impending performance enhancements.
As Formula 1 prepares to continue its triple-header in Sakhir for the Bahrain Grand Prix, both Leclerc and Hamilton aim to capitalize on new developments and strategy refinements. The event serves as a critical juncture for Ferrari to reconcile component discrepancies and improve their standing in the championship.
