Mercedes Leads Tight Field in Japanese GP FP1, Red Bull Off Pace

Mercedes drivers George Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli set the fastest times in a closely contested first practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, while reigning champions Red Bull finished a surprising seventh and thirteenth. The session at Suzuka hinted at a potentially tight battle for qualifying, with McLaren and Ferrari also showing strong pace.

Why it matters:

The opening practice session of a Grand Prix weekend sets the initial competitive tone, and the 2026 season's third round at Suzuka delivered several talking points. Mercedes' apparent return to form, Red Bull's unexpected struggle, and the impressive performance of several new-generation drivers provide an early glimpse into the pecking order for a critical race weekend.

The Details:

• Mercedes on Top: George Russell led the timesheets with a 1:31.666, just 0.026 seconds ahead of his highly-touted teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, signaling strong one-lap speed from the Silver Arrows.
• McLaren & Ferrari in the Mix: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were best of the rest for McLaren, within two-tenths of the lead, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton slotted into fifth and sixth, all within a four-tenths margin.
• Red Bull's Surprising Gap: Max Verstappen, in the lead Red Bull, was over seven-tenths off the pace in P7, with teammate Isack Hadjar down in P13. This significant gap will be the team's primary concern heading into FP2.
• Midfield Battle: The Racing Bulls (P8, P10), Haas (P9, P14), and Audi (P11, P12) formed a tight midfield group, all covered by less than three-tenths of a second.
• Teams at the Rear: Williams, Cadillac, and Aston Martin occupied the bottom six positions, with Aston Martin's Cian Shields completing only 11 laps and ending the session over four seconds off the pace.

What's next:

Teams will now analyze the data from FP1 to make setup adjustments for the all-important qualifying simulation runs in FP2. The key questions are whether Mercedes can maintain its edge, if Red Bull has a fundamental issue or was simply running a different program, and how the incredibly tight midfield will shake out. All eyes will be on the track for the second practice session to see if this initial order holds.