Norris Tops the Charts: Lando Norris set the fastest time in the first practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, leading a competitive field at Suzuka. The McLaren driver’s time of 1:28.549 put him just ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.
Tsunoda’s Red Bull Debut: Yuki Tsunoda made his debut for Red Bull Racing on his home soil, replacing Liam Lawson. He delivered a solid performance, finishing sixth and just a tenth of a second behind his teammate Max Verstappen.
Mercedes and Ferrari Close Behind: George Russell continued Mercedes’ strong start to the weekend, finishing second, while Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari were close behind in third and fourth, respectively.
Verstappen’s Car Concerns: Max Verstappen reported issues with his Red Bull car, noting excessive flexing in the second sector. Despite this, he finished fifth, ahead of Tsunoda.
Midfield Battles: Fernando Alonso, Isack Hadjar, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Carlos Sainz completed the top 10. Several drivers struggled with handling, including Oscar Piastri, who finished 15th.
Practice 1 Results:
- Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes) 1:28.549
- George Russell (Mercedes) +0.163
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.416
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.502
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) +0.516
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) +0.623
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes) +0.673
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) +0.676
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.735
- Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes) +0.784
- Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes) +0.843
- Ryō Hirakawa (Alpine/Renault) +0.845
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) +0.987
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Renault) +0.998
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes) +1.159
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Mercedes) +1.209
- Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber/Ferrari) +1.474
- Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari) +1.528
- Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari) +1.574
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber/Ferrari) +1.598
Source : FIA
This article was crafted with assistance from Gemini