Hamilton starts sixth in Japan after Suzuka qualifying struggles
Lewis Hamilton is uncertain what kind of racing spectacle Sunday's Grand Prix in Suzuka will deliver after the struggles he faced in qualifying.
The Briton has endured a difficult weekend in Japan so far, qualifying sixth—behind not only his teammate but also Lando Norris.
Speaking to the media after qualifying, when asked about Sunday's race, he said: "I honestly have no idea what the racing will be like here. I've barely been in a battle on track. This isn't usually a circuit with a lot of overtaking, so I expect less action than in the last race. Hopefully, there'll be a few moves."
When questioned about whether Turn 1 could be a good opportunity to gain positions, the seven-time world champion replied: "It's a DRS zone, so maybe. I really don't know. There's a long straight before it, so normally you come out of the last corner with no battery charge left."
After the session, the seven-time champion said he had felt fairly comfortable in the car but acknowledged that Ferrari still lacks pace, particularly compared to Mercedes and, to a lesser extent, McLaren.
He explained that his first attempt had been promising before he lost about two and a half tenths on the straights after a slide disrupted his energy deployment, costing him the chance of a better result. Fourth place had been within reach, but Hamilton ultimately finished around one and a half tenths behind Leclerc.
The Ferrari driver added that while a podium might be a challenge, his race pace looked solid. He also noted that McLaren had taken a step forward and pointed to the strength of their Mercedes power unit, which he believes currently offers a clear advantage.
