P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton has described his Mercedes as the ‘best it has felt this year’, so what now for the rest of the Japanese GP weekend?
Lewis Hamilton expressed optimism after a challenging day of practice at the Japanese Grand Prix but also criticized the situation that disappointed fans. Mercedes provided Hamilton and teammate George Russell with a more balanced W15 car following a tough weekend in Australia. Despite finishing fifth and fourth in FP1 at Suzuka, rain disrupted FP2, hindering the teams’ progress. Nonetheless, Hamilton was pleased with the car’s performance and the team’s improvements since previous races. The rain in FP2 limited track time for many teams, including Mercedes, which affected strategy for the weekend with the revised tyre rules. Hamilton remains hopeful for the weekend ahead, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the current setup and adapting to changing conditions.
