Formula 1 Japanese GP

Where Ferrari thinks it stacks up in Japan after mixed Friday

Ferrari went through a low-key Friday at Formula 1's Japanese Grand Prix with a SF-26 that was difficult to tame for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc

Filip Cleeren

Edited: Mar 27, 2026, 10:25 PM

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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

Ferrari is "just not quick enough" to trouble the front of the grid, thinks Lewis Hamilton, as the Scuderia hopes fixing its car balance will get it ahead of 2026 Formula 1 rival McLaren in Japan.

Charles Leclerc and Hamilton finished fifth and sixth in second practice on Friday, shipping around seven and eight tenths respectively to session leader Oscar Piastri in the McLaren.

Over half of that came right at the start of the lap as the Ferrari lost close to four tenths on Suzuka's home straight and into Turn 1. The Ferraris gained some time in slower speed corners, but then fell further behind on the straights against the Mercedes-engined cars.

But energy deployment is only a part of the equation as Hamilton and Leclerc were also struggling with the SF-26's tricky balance. The seven-time world champion feels improving the car set-up itself will already go a long way towards being back into the fight with McLaren behind championship leaders Mercedes.

"The car generally feels okay, it's just not quick enough at the moment and I think it's just balance," said Hamilton. "We've just got to work hard overnight to try and figure out how we can set the car up better.

"Ultimately there's a lot of time on the straights, it's four tenths into Turn 1 at the moment compared to McLaren. So deployment is part of it, I'm sure we can do a better job on improving on that and then I think there's more performance in the car to extract if we can get the set-up right."

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Ferrari's sporting director Diego Ioverno felt the deficit was largely as expected though, with the Italian outfit not as strong on one-lap pace as it has been over a race stint.

"I think the gap is more or less where we expected it to be, also quite in line with the first two races, especially in the short runs," the Italian said. "Nevertheless, we have to try to improve, we'll do what we can do, analysing data and trying to fix some small issues that we had.

"I think you heard Lewis complaining about the lack of confidence. The track is difficult with the new surface in the second part. A key factor would be to make sure the tyres are working from the first lap. Nothing unexpected, let me say."

Photos from Japanese GP - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Haas F1 detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Jacques Villeneuve arrives in the paddock.

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Jean Alesi

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

A huge crowd of fans gathered at the stage.

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Like Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Team

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, technical detail

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Fans of Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams runs wide

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing crash

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Japanese GP - Friday, in photos

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