Ferrari’s issues laid bare as Lewis Hamilton complains of power loss and understeer in Japan. Lewis Hamilton voices frustration over Ferrari’s lack of power.

Mercedes secured its third victory in as many Grands Prix. That is the verdict of the Japanese Grand Prix which, just like Australia and China—the opening rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season—once again saw the Silver Arrows take the win by making the most of a circuit that rewards engine power and overall chassis efficiency. Taking top honours, for the second race in a row, was Kimi Antonelli, who proved highly effective at capitalising on opportunities. The Safety Car played a key role in allowing him to recover the race lead after a poor start, and he then managed his rivals well in the closing stages.

These were the key ingredients that allowed him to come out on top against a resurgent McLaren driven by Oscar Piastri and the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Most notably, he also finished ahead of George Russell, who came home fourth (and is now second in the championship standings), beaten partly due to race incidents and a particularly difficult final stint. Suzuka therefore provided further confirmation of the superiority of the Brackley-based team, while also delivering important signals from their closest competitors, including a McLaren team in excellent form and a Ferrari that has now emerged as the third-fastest force on the grid.

Ferrari still has work to do

These conclusions represent the starting point for Ferrari, which, after Suzuka, will be called upon to work at full capacity during the month-long break before the Miami Grand Prix. The objective will be to push development of the SF-26, which, as seen in Japan, was only the third-best car in the field, although it still managed to secure a podium finish with Charles Leclerc and a sixth-place result with Lewis Hamilton.

The car once again revealed its weaknesses, which are now well known. These issues are evident not only on the power unit side but also from an aerodynamic standpoint. This was clearly highlighted by the lack of competitiveness in the first sector of the Japanese circuit, as well as by several moments of rear instability when exiting corners. Overall, it was not an especially encouraging performance, although it was partially improved by Leclerc’s podium, which somewhat masked the underlying difficulties of the car. These problems, however, weighed heavily on Lewis Hamilton’s race.

These aspects were also addressed by team principal Frederic Vasseur: “Hamilton complained about the tyres at the end of the race,” admitted the Frenchman. “Perhaps due to the overtake mode, he ended up in a train of cars and lost the positive effect.”

Hamilton in difficulty

These difficulties were somewhat downplayed by the French manager, but the seven-time world champion made them very clear over the team radio during the final laps of the race. Sir Lewis, in several exchanges with his race engineer Carlo Santi, openly expressed the issues he encountered, first and foremost highlighting a lack of power during his battles with Lando Norris’s McLaren in the closing stages.

Hamilton: “I have no deployment. Mate, I really need power…”

Hamilton (after being overtaken by Norris): “Ah, I’m so slow. They have so much power.”

That was not all, as the former Mercedes driver also reported significant difficulties in managing tyre performance, which made his car heavily affected by understeer.

Hamilton: “The car won’t turn. I’ve got massive understeer.”