Lewis Hamilton has revealed a specific issue with his Ferrari F1 car that is causing him to lose "over a tenth a lap" in performance compared to team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The seven-time world champion identified an "underperforming" component at the rear of his car that has been affecting his results in the opening races of the season.
Ferrari have acknowledged the problem but are reportedly unsure of its cause, with Hamilton hoping for a fix at the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix.
Hamilton finished seventh at the Japanese Grand Prix, one place ahead of where he qualified, while Leclerc managed fourth position.
Lewis Hamilton has admitted Ferrari is underperforming
Reuters
"My pace, I think, was maximum today. I didn't have anything else in the car," Hamilton told reporters after the race.
The British driver overtook Isack Hadjar in the early stages but couldn't make further progress despite trying an alternative strategy starting on hard tyres.
Ferrari currently sits as the fourth fastest team on the grid, trailing McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes in terms of performance.
"I'm really hoping in the next race we'll see hopefully some positive changes," Hamilton said.
"Through the first three races there's been a bit of a deficit between both sides of the garage on some elements of the car. On my side, underperforming."
When pressed about the issue, Hamilton explained: "They're [the team] aware of it, they don't know why [it's happening]."
"When the new component comes, hopefully it will be gone. I'm losing over a tenth a lap."
Leclerc echoed Hamilton's concerns about Ferrari's performance after finishing fourth in Japan.
Lewis Hamilton is 47 points behind leader Lando Norris after three rounds
Reuters
"Honestly, there wasn't anything more in the car," Leclerc told Sky Sports.
"It's even more disappointing when you do everything perfectly, then you finish P4, two or three tenths off, minimum, compared to the guys in front, every lap."
The Monegasque driver has made setup changes to suit his driving style but remains realistic about the team's position.
"If that means P4? Not great. I hope more performance is coming. We should have a few things coming soon."
Ferrari currently sits as the fourth fastest team on the grid, trailing McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes in terms of performance
Reuters
Hamilton is now eighth in the championship standings, 47 points behind leader Lando Norris after three rounds.
Ferrari suffered their first-ever double disqualification in China, with both cars ruled out for different reasons.
The team now faces crucial races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia over the next two weeks, where they hope to implement fixes for their performance issues.
Despite the challenges, Hamilton remains optimistic, stating: "I'm hoping the next race we will be closer. It will definitely be interesting for sure."