Lewis Hamilton could only set the eighth-fastest lap time in qualifying for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix to match his worst starting position as a Ferrari driver to date.
The 40-year-old only posted a personal-best time of 1:27.610 in Q3 to end the session 0.627 seconds off pole position. Hamilton also finished qualifying for the Japanese GP 0.311s from Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, as the 27-year-old took P4 on the grid for Sunday’s race.
Hamilton will line up alongside Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar on the grid after the 20-year-old out-paced the seven-time F1 champion by 0.041s. Only Alex Albon of Williams and Haas’ Oliver Bearman were slower in Q3, with both Mercedes drivers also in front with P5 and P6.
Mark Webber saw Lewis Hamilton get ‘frustrated’ with Ferrari’s monitor at the Japanese GP
George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli gave Mercedes the third row of the Suzuka grid as Hamilton rued Ferrari running their two cars higher than the Briton wants after their double disqualification in China. He struggled with understeer throughout qualifying, to finish in P8.
Ferrari recorded their first-ever double DSQ in China after Hamilton’s car suffered excessive rear skid plank wear and Leclerc’s SF-25 was found 1kg underweight. It flipped the mood at the Scuderia on its head after Hamilton won his first race for Ferrari in the Shanghai Sprint.
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| Position | Constructors’ Standings | Points |
| 1 |
McLaren Racing |
78 |
| 2 |
Mercedes-AMG Petronas |
57 |
| 3 |
Red Bull Racing |
36 |
| 4 |
Williams F1 Team |
17 |
| 5 |
Scuderia Ferrari |
17 |
| 6 |
Haas F1 Team |
14 |
Mark Webber saw some frustration from Hamilton in Ferrari’s garage at the Japanese GP, as well. The Australian felt the Briton looked irritated after his monitor did not come down. Yet Webber adds it is still ‘early days’ for Hamilton at Ferrari following his move from Mercedes.
“Early days, of course,” Webber said on Channel 4 (05/04, 11:46). “Engineering, terminology, I saw him one minute him getting a bit frustrated with the screen not coming down.”
Ferrari need to get Lewis Hamilton comfortable in his SF-25 for their constructors’ title bid
Hamilton is still adapting to his new surroundings at Ferrari after 12 seasons with Mercedes. Webber especially notes the learning curve that the Briton faces whilst Hamilton adjusts to the Scuderia’s engineering style and terminology, with Ferrari also his first non-British team.
The Stevenage-born star will hope to overcome the teething problems soon, though, and to have his SF-25 set up how the seven-time champion truly wants. Hamilton’s P8 in qualifying in Japan matches his P8 in Australia, but he was only 0.218s off Leclerc’s pace in Melbourne.
Maranello chiefs will also want to get Hamilton comfortable in his SF-25 as soon as possible as their double disqualification in China could ruin Ferrari’s constructors’ title hopes. Ferrari already trail defending champions McLaren by 61 points ahead of Sunday’s meet at Suzuka.
