{"id":98172,"date":"2023-09-22T15:23:13","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T15:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/turbocelebrity.com\/?p=98172"},"modified":"2023-09-22T15:23:13","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T15:23:13","slug":"gutted-lewis-hamilton-admits-he-definitely-wont-be-winning-japan-gp-after-really-bad-day-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turbocelebrity.com\/sport\/gutted-lewis-hamilton-admits-he-definitely-wont-be-winning-japan-gp-after-really-bad-day-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Gutted Lewis Hamilton admits he \u2018definitely won\u2019t be winning\u2019 Japan GP after \u2018really bad day\u2019 | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
GUTTED Lewis Hamilton admitted he "definitely won't be winning" the Japanese Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
The Mercedes driver, 38, finished third in Singapore last time out.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But after two dismal practice sessions in Suzuka today to finish P16 and P14, he has ruled himself out of finishing on top of the podium on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n
A dejected Hamilton – who is still looking for his first chequered flag since December 2021 – said: "It was a really bad day, to be honest. A real struggle out there.<\/p>\n
"[We were] a long way off, two seconds off in the first session and over a second off in the second. We're working away at just trying to fix the car's balance.<\/p>\n
"We'll work on it overnight and turn it around for tomorrow, but we definitely won't be winning this weekend!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
"If I in particular can move further up the order so I can at least back up George, who did a not-such-a-bad lap… yeah, tough one."<\/p>\n
Hamilton added: "It's figuring out what is wrong. We were much closer in the last race but we didn't have many high-speed corners, only one, but not as high-speed as the corners here.<\/p>\n
"Our car has, more often than not, been a bit weaker in the high-speed corners, so if you look at places like at Silverstone, for example, Copse is one of our weaker corners.<\/p>\n
"It's an area that we need to work on and get the car in more of a sweet spot where we're not overheating our tyres as much."<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS<\/strong><\/p>\n Then asked whether his improved FP2 time gave any reason for optimism, the seven-time world champ currently third in the 2023 standings fired back: "Nope! It was a really bad day, to be honest."<\/p>\n Despite his frustrations on the track in Japan, Hamilton is making sure he is keeping himself entertained off it this week.<\/p>\n The F1 superstar popped into the Universal Studios Super Nintendo World in Osaka – and sported a personalised white and red polka-dot hat like Mario character Toad.<\/p>\n He took on fellow driver Esteban Ocon by racing their remote-controlled cars around the paddock.<\/p>\n And Hamilton was also\u00a0seen supporting Sebastian Vettel as he built 11 "insect hotels"\u00a0at the Suzuka circuit and painted Turn Two with black and yellow paint.<\/p>\n<\/picture>Game sake <\/span><\/p>\n
Inside Hamilton\u2019s Japanese GP build-up featuring Nintendo outfit and remote car<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>MAX EARNER <\/span><\/p>\n
F1 2023 wages with Hamilton miles off No1 and Verstappen dwarfing team-mate wage<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>STINGING VETTEL <\/span><\/p>\n
Vettel’s bizarre new hobby as F1 legend spotted building ‘insect hotels’<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>IN A RUS <\/span><\/p>\n
Hamilton and Russell in Japan GP boost as Mercedes claim there\u2019s \u2018more to come\u2019<\/h3>\n