Lewis Hamilton has issued a stark call for Ferrari to urgently understand a significant power deficit that led to a disappointing sixth-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion, who overtook George Russell for third place early in the race, ultimately fell back due to what he described as a severe lack of engine performance throughout the event at Suzuka.
Hamilton's Frustration Over Pace Issues
In a post-race interview with Sky Sports F1, Hamilton summarised the outcome as "pretty terrible," noting that he started in a promising podium position but ended up "going backwards." He emphasised that the problem was not isolated, stating, "I just had a real lack of power throughout, particularly the second stint. But a majority of the race, even from the beginning, I couldn't keep up with people just for the lack of power."
Mercedes and McLaren Outperform Ferrari
The superior engine power of Mercedes-powered cars, including those from the Mercedes and McLaren teams, has been a defining feature of the opening three races in the 2026 season. This advantage was most evident on the straights, where Ferrari struggled to match their rivals' pace. Hamilton's comments underscore a growing concern within the Italian team as they trail other frontrunners in pure speed.
Urgent Calls for Improvement Before Miami
Hamilton has now urged Ferrari personnel back at the Maranello headquarters to make significant performance leaps during the five-week break before the next race in Miami on 3 May. He explained, "I'm full gas, and I'm managing where I've been asked to manage, yet for some reason [I was] just lacking power. So we need to figure out if there's something wrong with the car or not." Despite the issues, he acknowledged that the team still managed to secure some championship points from the event.
Season Progress and Championship Standings
This setback comes after a strong start to the season for Hamilton, who finished fourth at the Australian Grand Prix and secured his first podium for Ferrari with a third-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix. The 41-year-old British driver currently sits fourth in the championship standings, 31 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, highlighting the importance of addressing these technical woes to remain competitive in the title race.
