As the Formula 1 circus rolls into Japan for the upcoming Grand Prix at Suzuka, the mood within the Ferrari camp is one of cautious optimism following a tumultuous outing in Shanghai. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have voiced their confidence in the Scuderia's ability to bounce back from a disappointing double disqualification at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Ferrari's troubles in Shanghai began with a promising start, as Hamilton clinched victory in Saturday's Sprint race. However, the team struggled to maintain that momentum during the main event, where Leclerc and Hamilton initially crossed the line in fifth and sixth places, respectively. Their results were quickly overshadowed when post-race inspections revealed that Leclerc's car was underweight by 1kg, while Hamilton's SF-25 was found to have excessive skid wear on its rear skid block, leading to both drivers being disqualified.
Leclerc, reflecting on the disqualification, admitted that the loss of points was a significant setback for the team. "It hurts the team a lot," he stated, emphasizing the importance of learning from such mistakes. "Whenever you make mistakes, you learn from them, especially when they cost that much. To have both cars underneath it was a big pain. We didn’t need that. It’s been a very difficult first part of the season."
Despite the rocky start, Leclerc remains hopeful about Ferrari's prospects this season. "If we go back to last year, looking at the first few races, the situation in terms of performance was quite a bit worse than where we are now," he explained. Leclerc believes that the team has the potential to recover and put together a strong performance in the remaining races, stating, "The season is still very long. Small steps after small steps – we can still have an amazing season."
Hamilton, who joined Ferrari from Mercedes earlier this year, echoed Leclerc's sentiments. He expressed admiration for how the team has handled the aftermath of the disqualification. "I was at the factory during the week and was really impressed with how the team digested and worked through the analysis and figured out ways of working better moving forward," he said. "I’m 100% confident we can fix any of the problems that we have."
Addressing speculation about his faith in the team, Hamilton firmly stated, "I saw someone said something about whether I’m losing faith in the team, which is complete rubbish. I have absolute 100% faith in this team." His confidence is bolstered by the understanding that adapting to a new team takes time, and he remains committed to contributing positively to Ferrari's efforts.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur provided insight into the technical challenges faced during the race, suggesting that a leaking water bottle might have contributed to Leclerc's weight issues. "The tyres are only part of the explanation. We also lost a litre of water with Charles’s drink bottle leaking," he noted. Vasseur acknowledged that the team operates on the fine margins typical in Formula 1, where every gram and millimetre counts in the pursuit of performance.
As the team gears up for the Japanese Grand Prix, Hamilton looks forward to competing at Suzuka, a circuit where he has enjoyed considerable success, having won six times there. "I didn’t feel too bummed or anything from the disqualification. Those are the times you learn the most as a team," he reflected. With this being his 259th Formula 1 start, Hamilton aims to add another victory to his impressive record.
Looking ahead to the challenges on the Suzuka circuit, both drivers are focused on maximizing their performance and making the necessary adjustments from their previous outings. Leclerc is determined to ensure that the mistakes made in Shanghai do not repeat themselves. "We haven’t maximized what we could have in the first two races, and that’s frustrating. But it doesn’t mean we cannot recover," he added.
The atmosphere in the Ferrari garage is one of resilience and determination as they prepare for the upcoming race weekend. With the lessons learned from Shanghai fresh in their minds, both Leclerc and Hamilton are eager to demonstrate that they can compete at the highest level. As the team continues to work on refining their processes, the hope is that the disqualification serves as a catalyst for improvement.
The Japanese Grand Prix weekend promises to be a pivotal moment for Ferrari, as they look to turn the page on a challenging start to the season. With both drivers exuding confidence and a commitment to learning from past mistakes, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the Scuderia can reclaim their competitive edge on the track.
As the clock ticks down to race day, the excitement builds, and the question remains: can Ferrari rise from the ashes of disqualification to challenge for the podium once more? The answer will unfold on the storied Suzuka circuit, where the stakes are high and the competition fierce.
