Lewis Hamilton lauded his Mercedes team as he comfortably led both Japanese Grand Prix practice sessions, and revelled in the “incredible” nature of the Suzuka circuit.
Hamilton has triumphed at the three Grands Prix preceding Japan and continued his strong form by leading Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas in both practice sessions.
Hamilton was four-tenths clear of Bottas through the qualifying simulations in FP2, with title opponent Sebastian Vettel eight-tenths behind in third place.
In full: Japanese Grand Prix FP2 results
“Every time we come to Suzuka, particularly over the last few years, the cars just get faster and faster, it's incredible,” he said.
“They don't make tracks like this anymore – there's very little room for runoff, a little touch of the grass and you're off in the wall.
“Suzuka has to be one of my favourite circuits, if not the favourite one, it's very cool. Especially the first and second sectors are insane, the first section is the best roller coaster ride that I've felt in a Formula 1 car.
“The balance was in quite a nice place, so I was just enjoying it. Every year I come back, there are always areas that I can improve, so I was like "There are two or three corners where I know that I need to kill it this year" and I got straight up to it.
“I was much better than I had ever been through those particular corners.
“Now I just have to stay on it, keep working; my team and I, we're working so well together in fine-tuning this car. “I'm just loving driving more than ever; when you get in the car, it's just the best, it's so fast and I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to do what I do.
“I've just been giving thanks all day today because this is what I've always wanted to do.”
Bottas was running a harder compound compared to Hamilton in FP1 but both used the Supersofts for their best laps in FP2, with the Finn feeling his W09 felt better earlier in the day.
“The car also felt quite good, although for me it was better in FP1 than in FP2,” he said.
“We have a full night ahead to investigate all the changes we made and find the right set-up.
“But overall the car felt pretty good throughout all sectors, I just had some balance issues, struggling a bit with understeer.
“Overall it's a good starting point for the weekend, but it's hard to say where we stand in relation to the others.
“It always gets more intense in qualifying, so we're going to work just as hard as usual to find all the improvements we can.”
