George Russell set the fastest time in first practice ahead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli as he showed off his Mercedes power around Suzuka ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Russell, who leads the championship after the first two races of the season, four points behind Antonelli, who won his first race in China last season, set a best time of 1:31.666 with his Italian team-mate just 0.026 seconds adrift mid-session on soft tyres.
However, the Silver Arrows’ rivals were not too far behind on the timetable and McLaren proved their closest challenger in the first session.
Recovering from a disaster that saw both cars fail to start the race in China, the defending world champion finished third with Lando Norris and fourth with Oscar Piastri. Oscar Piastri missed the start of the opening Grand Prix in Australia as well due to a crash, with both drivers finishing within 0.2 seconds of the Mercedes.
Ferrari, Mercedes’ closest challenger in the opening two events, was fastest with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively.
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Charles Leclerc double overtook Oscar Piatri and Pierre Gasly.
Max Verstappen was seventh and 0.7 seconds slower than Russell, an early sign that Red Bull’s hopes of a fifth successive Japanese GP win this weekend will not be easy. Isack Hadjar, who suffered from early brake temperatures, finished 13th in his sister car.
But Red Bull used the first session to evaluate the biggest suite of upgrades introduced to the car this weekend. This included changes to the RB22, including a revised floor and sidepod design.
Ferrari also updated the SF-26 with revised bottom and front corners, while Mercedes and McLaren stuck with the Shanghai’s aerodynamic package.
Perez-Albon crashes during busy start with steward recruitment at Suzuka
With the session taking place in warm spring weather under sunny skies, Norris, Russell and Leclerc all had moments off the track at the long, curved Spoon corner, while Williams’ Alex Albon went out of shape across the gravel at the second Degner and pounded the barrier.
Albon’s Williams suffered further damage following a collision with Cadillac’s Sergio Perez in the final minutes of the final chicane.
As Williams attempted to brake on the inside, the two cars made contact, sending debris scattered across the track.
“oh my god!” Perez said on team radio: “I had no idea Williams was next to us. He crashed into me.”
“I don’t know if he saw me,” Albon said on Williams team radio.
Perez had previously been branded an “idiot” by Russell over team radio when the Mercedes driver was caught behind a Cadillac exiting the final corner in what still proved to be the fastest lap of the session.
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Ollie Bearman, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc give their views on the new qualifying rule changes ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Albon and Perez were summoned to the stewards after the meeting while an investigation into the incident took place. Hamilton and Verstappen were called in to explain incidents where they were blocked during running time, along with Liam Lawson and Carlos Sainz.
Elsewhere, Racing Bulls had a productive start to the weekend with Lawson (8th) and Arvid Lindblad (10th) completing the top 10 alongside Haas’ Esteban Ocon (9th).
Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, whose arrival in Japan was delayed due to the birth of his first child, was driven by reserve driver Jak Crawford in the first session. However, American Crawford was only able to complete 11 laps due to body damage to his car.
Alonso, who arrived in Suzuka ahead of the opening session, returned for a second run in hopes of closing the 0.8 second gap that left Aston Martin alone behind Cadillac on the P1 timesheets.
Sky Sports F1 Japan GP Schedule
Friday, March 27
4:30 a.m.: Team leader press conference
5:45 a.m.: Japanese GP practice 2 (session starts at 6 a.m.)*
7:15 AM: F1 Show*
Saturday, March 28th
2:15 AM: Japanese GP Practice 3 (session starts at 2:30 AM)*
5am: Japanese GP qualifying build-up*
6 AM: Japanese GP Qualifying*
8 AM: Ted’s Qualifying Note*
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Take a look back at some of the wildest moments captured by onboard cameras at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Sunday March 29th
4:30 AM: Build-up to the Japanese GP – Grand Prix Sunday*
6 a.m.: Japanese Grand Prix*
8am: Japanese GP reaction – checkered flag*
9:00 AM: Ted’s Note*
*Live broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 heads to the iconic Suzuka Circuit this weekend for the Japanese Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports NOW – No Commitment, Cancel Anytime
