Japanese GP: Ferrari ‘know they’re in bother’ as Lewis Hamilton slams qualifying session as ‘not ok’

Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve says Ferrari “know they’re in bother” after a irritating begin to the 2025 season.

Hamilton – in his first yr with the Scuderia after becoming a member of from Mercedes, the place he gained seven world titles – certified eighth for the Japanese Grand Prix and team-mate Charles Leclerc fourth, two weeks after each had been disqualified from the Chinese language Grand Prix.

A dash victory in China has been the spotlight of Hamilton’s Ferrari stint thus far with he and Leclerc ending tenth and eighth respectively within the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and sitting on single-figure factors hauls forward of Sunday’s race at Suzuka.

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Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion with Williams, informed Sky Sports activities F1: “They know they’re in bother and have no idea the way to get higher. They will see the opposition goes to get higher, so it’s not trying good for Ferrari.”

Hamilton: Not ok from my aspect

Hamilton was disillusioned along with his efficiency in qualifying, saying “not ok from my aspect” as he ended up over six tenths behind shock pole-sitter Max Verstappen.

Purple Bull driver Verstappen snatched high spot from McLaren’s championship chief Lando Norris with a time of 1:26.983, a lap file at Suzuka.

Hamilton’s extreme skid-block put on led to his disqualification in China a fortnight in the past and that was maybe the explanation for Ferrari operating the next automobile in Japan.

The Brit mentioned after qualifying: “We’re operating larger than I would love however everyone seems to be in the identical boat.

“Charles [Leclerc] did an incredible job. We went in several instructions with set-up. I had a number of understeer and simply could not dial it up.”

Leclerc: Large hole in comparison with McLaren and Purple Bull

Requested whether or not Ferrari’s trip top is affecting efficiency, Leclerc mentioned: “Now we have bought another points, not notably with the trip top. I can not go an excessive amount of into element.

“In qualifying, it began to go away from us somewhat bit, particularly in Q3. I had both a number of oversteer or understeer however the lap I did, I used to be actually proud of it.

“Going again [to practice in Friday] we actually discovered one thing from my driving model that appears to work a bit higher and gave me much more confidence for the remainder of qualifying.

“That is optimistic for the remainder of the season [but] the opposite points would possibly take a bit longer. There’s nonetheless an enormous hole in comparison with McLaren and Purple Bull and that is our goal.

“On the entire, it has been optimistic as a result of I really feel much more comfy with the automobile.”

Sky Sports activities F1’s reside Japanese GP schedule

Sunday April 6

• 4.30am: Japanese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
• 6am: THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX*
• 8am: Japanese GP response: Chequered Flag*
• 9am: Ted’s Pocket book*

*additionally reside on Sky Sports activities Important Occasion

System is on the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, reside on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime