Ferrari demonstrated glimpses of pace potential during day one of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend at Suzuka. Their SF-25 car emerged as the third-fastest on the track. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, noted that significant improvements are still possible. Hamilton expressed delight at returning to Suzuka, a track he has won on four occasions, now donning Ferrari’s signature red overalls, an experience he described as special. However, he tempered expectations regarding a race victory, acknowledging that it would be overly optimistic.
“We felt great, we got through all the program, we’ve got some performance we need to pick up, we’re not the quickest at the moment, but I think it’s a good baseline,” Hamilton remarked after Free Practice 2, where he secured P4. The session was marred by four red flag incidents, yet Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc completed 14 laps each, the most by any team. Despite these efforts, they lagged behind McLaren and Mercedes, raising the question of how much progress is needed to catch or surpass them by Saturday.
There was little to separate the two Ferrari drivers. Leclerc trailed Hamilton by just four hundredths of a second, finishing P7 in FP2. In FP1, Leclerc had edged ahead by eight hundredths of a second. Nevertheless, McLaren and Mercedes showcased superior speed above the Ferrari duo.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri claimed the top spots in the practice sessions, respectively, positioning McLaren as the team to beat. Mercedes’ George Russell closely followed, finishing second to Norris with just a tenth and a half margin. Without the red flag interruptions in FP2, Russell might have closed the gap to Piastri further, indicating Ferrari’s deficit of about two to three-tenths compared to McLaren and Mercedes.
With lingering potential for podium finishes, Ferrari has yet to capitalize on it this season. Following a double disqualification in China, the team is eager for a strong points haul at the Japanese GP. While a win might be far-fetched, the looming possibility of rain on Sunday could shift conditions in Ferrari’s favor—a scenario Hamilton hopes for.
After securing his first Ferrari win during the sprint race in Shanghai, Hamilton is keen to celebrate with Grand Prix success. His prowess in wet conditions provides a glimmer of hope for a surprise podium finish at Suzuka.
However, before contemplating race outcomes, Ferrari must resolve a critical issue: their lack of raw qualifying pace. The SF-25 struggles with single-lap speed, putting them at a disadvantage from the outset. Qualifying high is crucial on the narrow Suzuka circuit, where overtaking presents challenges. With no rain forecasted for Saturday, Ferrari needs to optimize their setup to extract maximum performance, key to a solid result on Sunday.
