Lewis Hamilton has admitted that Ferrari are well behind Mercedes after he and Charles Leclerc could only manage sixth and fourth on the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Ferrari had been Mercedes’ nearest rivals at the first two races of the season, but McLaren put in a stronger showing at Suzuka, with Oscar Piastri qualifying ahead of Leclerc in third.
Hamilton, who was a tenth of a second slower than Leclerc and two places behind him, told Sky Sports F1 that the car simply lacks pace compared to Mercedes and McLaren. He also had a moment on his best lap which cost him time on the straights and likely bumped him down from fourth to sixth.
Hamilton had finally got his first podium for Ferrari in China, and Leclerc had done the same the week before in Australia, but McLaren look likely to make things harder this weekend.
Hamilton said the race pace has been reasonable and he has not given up on a podium finish, but acknowledged that McLaren have moved forward, helped in part by their Mercedes engine, which he feels is currently well ahead of Ferrari’s.
He added that closing the gap would take a huge effort from everyone at the team, pointing out that even bringing an upgrade of a few tenths would still leave them a fair way short.
