Hamilton Finds Glimmer of Hope After Challenging Start at Japanese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton expressed optimism about finding a solution to his Ferrari car's issues despite struggling with oversteer during the Japanese Grand Prix's Friday practice sessions. Hamilton trailed second practice leader Oscar Piastri by eight tenths and lacked confidence in his car, but believes a deeper analysis overnight could lead to improvements. He noted that the car's setup bears some similarities to what he experienced last year, and the team will work on making adjustments to find a better balance. Championship leader George Russell, who is two tenths behind Piastri, acknowledged that Mercedes has more speed to unlock and was impressed by McLaren's performance. Russell has a four-point lead over Kimi Antonelli in the Drivers' Championship and is focused on optimizing his car's energy management. Meanwhile, Lando Norris suffered a hydraulics leak that cost him 20 minutes in second practice, leaving him on the 'back foot' with no long run at the end of the day. Red Bull's Max Verstappen also faced a difficult day, finishing 10th and 1.4 seconds off the pace, highlighting the team's ongoing struggles in 2026.