Lewis Hamilton is going back to his days racing on computer games as he looks to finally “master” Suzuka and boost his world championship hopes. The Brit currently leads the drivers’ standings but is just three points clear of Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg.
The duo are set for another showdown in Suzuka and have already proved their dominance as Rosberg led a one-two in morning practice, with Hamilton turning the tables after the second session yesterday.
Hamilton has won the Japanese Grand Prix in the past but that came in his debut year in 2007 when the race was hosted by Fuji.
Suzuka is one of just four tracks on the current calendar where Hamilton has yet to stand astride the top step on the podium and, with it being a circuit that he adores, the 29-year-old is ready to end years of frustration and deliver a maiden victory that will see him move closer towards a second title.
He said: “Suzuka is one of the legendary tracks. It is an old-school circuit and there are not many of them left. It has been resurfaced and there have been a couple of small changes, but it has kept its character.
“Then there is the fact that I have grown up playing it on computer games and watching some of the most historic races, like those between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, or the time Kimi Raikkonen came from 17th on the grid to win in 2005.
“If I win at a track, I feel like I have conquered or mastered it. But I have not won at Suzuka yet. I feel like I have still to master it, and that frustrates the hell out of me.”
Both Mercedes were in charge all day yesterday and Hamilton revealed his delight at how the weekend has started.
He added: “The gap changes from track to track between us and other cars but it looks pretty good so far this weekend. To come here at one of the most demanding tracks for downforce and to be that competitive is fantastic. It’s amazing what this team has done.”
Hamilton’s former team-mate Jenson Button was the last man other than Sebastian Vettel to win at Suzuka, taking the chequered flag back in 2011, and he was also pleased with his day’s work.
The McLaren driver, whose future with the team remains unclear, managed to set the fourth fastest time in practice two but is realistic about the field bunching up once qualifying gets under way today.
He said: “We are getting there but it will close up in qualifying and we know that. P4 in qualifying I don’t think is a possibility.
“People always go quicker in qualifying so I don’t know about that but we have got the car working for a long run. It is a little bit more positive than normal and hopefully we can carry that through to Sunday.”
Typhoon Phanfone continues to present a threat to Sunday’s race as it crosses the Pacific Ocean but Thursday’s forecast that the centre will pass well clear of Suzuka remains unchanged although the race will probably be a wet one.
