Lewis Hamilton pleased with Mercedes progress despite qualifying setback

Lewis Hamilton may have missed out on pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix, but the seven-time world champion is still pleased with the progress Mercedes has made.

Max Verstappen continued his dominance in qualifying by securing pole position, but Hamilton was not far behind, starting in fourth place on the grid.

Despite the qualifying result, Hamilton expressed his satisfaction with the improvements Mercedes has made to their car.

“We’ve made some good steps forward with the car, and I’m happy with the progress we’ve made,” Hamilton said. “Of course, it’s disappointing not to be on pole, but we’re in a good position to fight for the win tomorrow.”

Hamilton’s teammate, Valtteri Bottas, will start alongside him on the second row of the grid in third place, giving Mercedes a strong chance of challenging Red Bull for victory in the race.

Verstappen’s pole position streak now extends to the last race of the previous season, highlighting the Dutch driver’s impressive form in qualifying.

Despite Verstappen’s dominance, Hamilton remains confident in his own abilities and the potential of the Mercedes car.

“We know we have a good race pace, and we’ll be pushing hard to make up positions and challenge for the win,” Hamilton added.

The stage is set for an exciting race at Suzuka, with Hamilton eager to showcase Mercedes’ improvements and challenge Verstappen for victory. Stay tuned for all the action from the Japanese Grand Prix.