Lewis Hamilton is not convinced he will be able to bounce back from his off-key display in Singapore at this week’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Hamilton and his Mercedes team, who have dominated Formula One for the best part of two seasons, left the night race confused by their bizarrely lacklustre showing.
The Briton was a mighty 1.5 seconds slower than pole-sitter and eventual race winner Sebastian Vettel in qualifying. And despite running in fourth on Sunday, he was forced to park his Mercedes car for the first time this season after suffering a loss of power.
– F1: Singapore Grand Prix drivers ratings
– UAE: Team Abu Dhabi claim second in Texas WEC leg
Mercedes blamed their below-par showing at the unique street circuit on their tyres, and Toto Wolff, the team’s chief, expects normal service to resume in Suzuka.
But Hamilton appeared less optimistic. He said: “I don’t have any confidence and I don’t have any information to give me that confidence, but I am hoping what happened there is a one-off.
“It is a very strange weekend to say the least. The car has not got slower. I think some other people might have brought an upgraded package but that does not explain it.
“I asked my engineers that I would like some information as soon as you know what you may or may not think it is. But there is not a lot of time between now and the next race so a lot of focus has to go on that to try and improve it.”
Hamilton arrived in Tokyo yesterday and will head to Suzuka later this week. He leads Nico Rosberg by 41 points after his Mercedes team-mate crossed the line in Sunday’s race in fourth.
Singapore winner Vettel is now just eight points adrift of Rosberg, and speaking on the podium, the four-times champion said he hoped to make “the impossible possible” by catching Hamilton in the remaining six races.
Hamilton, however, dismissed suggestions that his team would focus solely on his title challenge in order to stave off the growing threat from Ferrari.
“There is two of us and the team is pushing us 100 per cent,” he added. “If they took the focus off Nico and put it on me it would not make a difference because they are already at 100 per cent on my side. There is no real advantage to be gained.
“They are both in the running for the championship so there is no point at which I am comfortable. I am confident in my ability and speed and if we don’t have problems like this weekend, I feel confident I can fight for the wins.”
A relaxed Hamilton added: “As you have seen I am very chilled about the weekend. I come here to do a job and I am fully aware that despite the success we have had, you can’t win them all. I am looking at the glass half-full.”
