P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Leclerc F1 clash damage derailed Japanese GP hopes, says Hamilton
The Mercedes driver entered the Suzuka race with hopes of building on promising potential shown in practice with a new setup direction for the W15. Unfortunately, he encountered car damage early on after a clash with Charles Leclerc, causing severe understeer. This led him to yield to teammate George Russell, who had closed in on him in the first stint. Despite struggling with the car’s performance, the driver highlighted the difficulties he faced and the adjustments made during the race. The Mercedes team’s weekend was hindered by a poor qualifying performance, according to trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin, limiting their ability to challenge for a podium finish. Reflecting on the overall outcome, the team acknowledged the need for improvement in speed and performance to be competitive in future races.
