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The championship leader is thankful to have
extended his advantage over Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to 34
points with five races remaining but he is also conscious that
there is work to be done.
Mercedes were slower than Ferrari and Red Bull for the second
successive race in Malaysia after similarly struggling for pace
in Singapore.
That represented unfamiliar territory for the reigning
champions, even if they came away with a tidy points haul as
Ferrari self-destructed.
Hamilton has won twice before at Suzuka, and three times in
Japan when Fuji is included in the reckoning, while Mercedes are
unbeaten there in three years.
On paper it should suit them again, but there is also an air of
uncertainty with Red Bull very much in the mix after Max
Verstappen's victory at Sepang.
"There are a lot of question marks generally which we need to
assess," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. "I think we should
have been quicker than we were (in Malaysia) but Suzuka should
be much more in the window.
"I'm very much looking forward to Suzuka to see how the car
behaves there because it should be completely different."
Last year, Hamilton arrived in Japan ill at ease and still
feeling the agony of an engine failure at Sepang while leading
from pole position -- a blow that ultimately cost him the
championship.
He played around on Snapchat and then moodily refused questions
from 'disrespectful' media who criticized his behavior.
This time he is riding a run of good fortune, with an opening
lap crash for Vettel in Singapore dealing the German a
significant setback in a race that the Briton went on to win.
In Malaysia he finished second after his rival raced to fourth
place from last on the grid due to a power unit problem in
qualifying.
Vettel had a new engine for Sepang and the four times winner in
Japan will expect to be quick on Sunday, with fears for his
car's gearbox subsiding since he and Canadian Lance Stroll
collided on the post-race slowing down lap.
"It's been a difficult weekend, but nevertheless the speed is
there," said the four-time champion, who has four wins this year
to Hamilton's seven.
But both he and Hamilton also have to contend with a resurgent
Red Bull.
"The Red Bulls are right in it now," said former racer and
television commentator Martin Brundle.
"You think of Suzuka, it's just one corner after another. You
always want power but they should be mighty in Suzuka, the Red
Bulls."
Sunday's race will also be Honda's last home grand prix as power
unit suppliers to McLaren, with the Japanese manufacturer set to
tie up with Toro Rosso next year.
The Woking-based team head into the weekend having chalked up
their first consecutive points finishes of the season.
A third race in the points this weekend, at a track owned by
Honda, will see McLaren, who are switching to Renault power next
year, equal their best successive run of top-10 finishes since
joining forces with the Japanese firm.
(Editing by Alan Baldwin)
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