MERCEDES LEADS AS FP1 AT SUZUKA OFFERS FIRST CLUES IN JAPAN
Formula 1 returns to one of the most iconic tracks on the calendar, the Suzuka Circuit. The two weeks between the Chinese Grand Prix and Japan were busy off the track as well. Mercedes was again in the spotlight due to the front wing controversy, while Ferrari also faced attention after a small wing solution used in China was later banned by the FIA.
In the first free practice session, all top teams started their work using the hard tires. The only different choices were made by McLaren with Oscar Piastri and Red Bull Racing, who initially used medium tires.
The session began with early problems for the reigning world champion Lando Norris, who stayed in the garage during the first part. McLaren was coming from a difficult weekend in China, where both cars were unable to start the race due to a battery issue.
The early laps were mainly used to understand how the new generation of cars behaves at Suzuka, especially in terms of energy management, which is a key factor this season. Charles Leclerc set the early pace with a lap of 1:32.260, followed very closely by George Russell, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Piastri. Ferrari also chose not to use its updated front wing during this session.
With just over half an hour remaining, Mercedes switched to the soft tires and moved to the top of the timesheets. Norris finally joined the track but ran wide at Spoon Corner during his first flying lap. Ferrari carried out practice starts with both drivers before returning to the pits, while Red Bull also switched to soft tires but remained several tenths behind Mercedes.
Leclerc had a difficult time on the soft tires, making mistakes on his first attempts and running wide more than once. After several laps, he improved but remained about three tenths off the fastest time. Lewis Hamilton was slightly further back, just ahead of Antonelli. Piastri delivered a strong lap to go third, around two tenths behind Russell, before Norris improved late in the session to take that position from his teammate.
In the final minutes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull focused on race pace simulations, while Mercedes stayed in the garage. The session was not fully representative, but one clear result was Mercedes finishing with a one-two at the top.
McLaren ended the session in third and fourth place, although it is still too early to confirm them as the second-best team. Ferrari did not show its full potential, and the second practice session is expected to give a clearer picture. Red Bull appeared slightly behind the top three teams for now.
In the midfield, RB had a strong session, with Audi and Haas F1 Team not far behind. Alpine, Williams, and Cadillac followed, while Aston Martin struggled at the back of the field.
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