Practice 1 Report - Verstappen heads Red Bull 1-2

Max Verstappen
© Red Bull

In the first practice session of the Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, the championship frontrunner, showcased his form by leading a Red Bull Racing one-two finish. The session at Suzuka Circuit was briefly interrupted by a red flag due to Logan Sargeant's mishap. The Williams driver crashed into the wall after losing control at the Dunlop Curve, necessitating a pause to clear the debris. This incident added to Williams' woes, as the car, previously damaged by Alex Albon in Australia, still awaited a replacement chassis, now further delayed until the Miami Grand Prix.

The practice began with teams opting for longer runs on hard and medium tyre compounds, a strategy influenced by the forecast of potential rain during the weekend. This approach limited the initial pace-setting to these compounds, with Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr., the victor in Melbourne, initially leading the pack. However, the dynamics shifted as teams switched to soft tyres for quicker laps in the latter half of the session. Despite a promising start on softer compounds by Lewis Hamilton, it was Verstappen who ultimately set the fastest lap at 1m30.056s on soft tyres after the session resumed post-red flag, demonstrating the potent pace of Red Bull. Sergio Perez secured the second-fastest time, closely following his teammate, highlighting Red Bull's strong position.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz clinched the third-fastest time, barely trailing behind Perez, while Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton showcased their competitiveness by rounding out the top five. Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso with Aston Martin, and McLaren's Oscar Piastri also featured prominently in the top ten, signaling a closely contested field.

Amidst the competitive field, Red Bull junior driver Ayumu Iwasa made his FP1 debut at his home circuit, finishing 16th. Despite being a newcomer, Iwasa's performance was noteworthy, only 0.9 seconds off Yuki Tsunoda's best lap.

Red Bull's dominance was evident, with Verstappen and Perez asserting their positions at the forefront. However, the competitive times posted by Ferrari and Mercedes suggested that Red Bull would not have an easy path to victory.

As teams analyzed the data collected during FP1 and prepared for the upcoming sessions, the anticipation for the rest of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend grew. The varied tyre strategies observed during the practice, coupled with the unpredictable weather, promised an engaging and strategic battle among the top teams and drivers. With the championship battle heating up, each session's importance was magnified, setting the stage for a weekend of Formula 1 racing at one of the sport's most iconic circuits.