F1: Rosberg will be hard to pass in Suzuka, says Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton feels it won't be easy to find a way to beat teammate Nico Rosberg, who will start on pole at Suzuka - unless he can get a jump at the start.
"That's the million dollar question," said Hamilton when asked how he could win. "Same as every time it's like that, you have a chance at the start. There's not a very big chance on the strategy, but it's not impossible. You could potentially offset your tyres, maybe."
"But at the moment, I don't really know, I haven't figured that part out. Generally, there are not many exciting races, because you can't overtake, so it would just be a train, and you'd just be following the whole time."
A lack of overtaking opportunities means that Rosberg will be able to control the race, and also the first call on strategy.
"You can't overtake here, pretty much, it doesn't matter how good you are, because you can't get close enough," said Hamilton. "The guy in front is going to have the clean air, and it doesn't matter how good you are at overtaking, you can't get close enough. These cars do not allow us to get close enough."
"Basically the closer you get, the more disadvantage you get. Any advantage you do have, it disappears, due to the loss of downforce."
Hamilton also conceded that Suzuka has traditionally not been his best circuit.
"It's just never been a comfortable circuit for me," said Hamilton. "I love the circuit, but I just never felt comfortable on it."
When it comes to not running well in Japan, Hamilton was quick to put the blame on himself.
"It's me," said Hamilton. "Sometimes I haven't had the car, but generally it's me. It's just a track I haven't felt comfortable on - it's a weird sensation."
Although Hamilton doesn't have the most confidence going into the race, he suggested after qualifying that the rainy conditions have helped him master the track a little better.
"Today, I felt like I'd overcome a large part of that, and last year in the wet I did also," said Hamilton. "As long as it rains from now on, it won't be a problem."
