Hamilton: 'During your first lap here you think about all those legends'

Lewis Hamilton looks back positively on a challenging day at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan. The Briton says he is happy with what he saw and hopes Mercedes will be quick like Ferrari and Red Bull this GP weekend.

Hamilton has little to say about the first free practice session. There was very little driving, with the Brit calling Friday "a very quiet day". Hamilton goes on to say in the Mercedes press statement, "It was positive that we could change the tyres in the second free practice." Changing the tyres was actually a disadvantage, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. Mercedes used almost all rain tyres already.

Hamilton: " This track is great to drive on and it's nice to see the fans here. It will be even more fun without rain. When you make your first lap of the weekend here, it's always special to think of all the legends who were here; then you come across at the last chicane at turn one and think of [Ayrton] Senna and [Alain] Prost. Then you realise what a privilege it is to drive a place with so much history." Hamilton concludes, "I don't really know what to expect tomorrow. I do think Ferrari and Red Bull will be fast and I hope we are too - I hope every week!"