Mercedes sets early pace in Suzuka practice

George Russell led a Mercedes one-two in the opening practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, narrowly edging teammate Kimi Antonelli by just 0.026 seconds. McLaren's Lando Norris was the closest challenger in third, while reigning champion Max Verstappen had a subdued session, finishing seventh in his Red Bull. The hour was punctuated by several on-track incidents and traffic frustrations as teams began their work at the demanding Suzuka circuit.

Why it matters:

A strong start in Suzuka is crucial for Mercedes, a team seeking to confirm its recent upward trajectory and challenge for victories on a classic, high-speed track. The early gap to Red Bull, with Verstappen nearly eight-tenths off the pace, will be a key point of observation, though Friday practice programs are often deceptive. The session also highlighted the intense midfield battle, with mere tenths separating several teams.

The details:

• Mercedes on top: The Silver Arrows established themselves at the front once the session shifted to soft tyre runs, with Russell and Antonelli trading fastest laps before Russell set the definitive benchmark of 1m31.666s.
• McLaren in pursuit: Norris and Oscar Piastri slotted into third and fourth, appearing as the nearest threat but still roughly two-tenths behind the leading Mercedes pace.
• Session disruptions: Cool temperatures made tyre warm-up tricky, and traffic became a major issue. Several incidents occurred, including:
  • Alex Albon running through the gravel and brushing the barrier at Degner 2.
  • Contact between Albon and Sergio Perez at the Casio Triangle, scattering debris and prompting a post-session investigation.
  • Multiple radio complaints about traffic, including from Liam Lawson regarding a slow Carlos Sainz.
• Program variance: Teams ran different plans, leading to a large final gap of over five seconds from first to last. Aston Martin's session was particularly quiet, with stand-in Jak Crawford managing only 11 laps.

What's next:

The early timesheet offers an initial snapshot, but true competitive order will become clearer in FP2 and, crucially, in qualifying on Saturday. All eyes will be on whether Mercedes can maintain this edge and if Red Bull's apparent deficit is genuine or simply a result of run plans. Teams will also analyze the incident between Albon and Perez, with the stewards set to review the clash.