Motor Racing-Mercedes car feels best in years, Hamilton says

In Suzuka, Japan, Lewis Hamilton expressed satisfaction with his Mercedes Formula One car, stating that it feels the best it has in over three years. Despite a middle-of-the-pack qualifying session at the Japan Grand Prix on Saturday, which was dominated by rival team Red Bull, the seven-times world champion remains optimistic.

Hamilton, who will be leaving the Silver Arrows to join Ferrari at the end of the season, has faced frustrations due to reliability issues in recent years, including retirement from the last race in Melbourne after an engine failure.

Reflecting on his performance, Hamilton mentioned, “It’s been night and day difference over the weekend so far, just in terms of how comfortable I felt in the car. The car’s been much nicer to drive this weekend and particularly at a track like this where you need a nice balance, this is the nicest it’s felt over the last three years.”

Additionally, Hamilton successfully out-qualified his teammate George Russell for the first time this season, with Russell finishing in ninth place.

Despite these positives, Hamilton acknowledges that more performance improvements are needed to effectively compete with Red Bull, who have been the dominant force in Formula One in recent years.

“It’s been really, really hard to get the set-up right and it’s been so far out each time. In some places, it just felt like nothing we could do,” Hamilton shared. “This weekend it’s much more in the sweet spot so I hope that continues in the following races and then we’ve just got to add performance.”

Overall, Hamilton remains optimistic about the potential of his Mercedes car and is hopeful for stronger performances in upcoming races. The Formula One veteran is determined to make the most of his final season with Mercedes before moving on to the new challenge at Ferrari.

As the Japan Grand Prix unfolds, fans eagerly anticipate how Hamilton and his team will fare against Red Bull and other competitors in the race. With a renewed sense of confidence in his car, Hamilton is poised to give his all in pursuit of victory.

(Reporting by John Geddie, editing by Ed Osmond)