Norris quickest in opening practice for Japanese Grand Prix as….read more
Lando Norris emerged as the fastest driver in the opening practice session of the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, securing a top time of 1:28.549. The McLaren driver was just 0.163 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, who finished in second. Norris’ performance was particularly impressive as he pushed his car to the limit, especially in the final chicane, where he suffered a slight slide and briefly went off track. Despite the brief mishap, Norris was able to recover and set a solid lap time. Russell, who has been in strong form recently, finished just over two-tenths of a second faster than third-placed Charles Leclerc, driving for Ferrari. The Monegasque driver set a best time of 1:28.965, ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who clocked 1:29.051, and Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, who ended the session in fifth.
Verstappen, the defending World Champion, was not completely satisfied with his performance, citing a lack of stability in his car, especially in the second sector, where he noted significant flexing. He finished just 0.014 seconds ahead of his new teammate, Yuki Tsunoda. Tsunoda, who was making his debut for Red Bull Racing on home soil, delivered a solid performance, finishing in sixth place. The Japanese driver, who replaced Liam Lawson in the team, initially focused on finding a comfortable balance with the car rather than pushing for speed. However, as the session progressed, Tsunoda started finding more pace, ultimately finishing just 0.107 seconds behind Verstappen.
Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, placed seventh, while Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar was in eighth. Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has been impressing in his first season, finished in ninth, ahead of Williams’ Carlos Sainz, who completed the top ten. Sainz’s teammate, Alexander Albon, finished just outside the top ten in 11th, with a time of 1:29.392.
Alpine’s Ryo Hirakawa, filling in for regular driver Jack Doohan, was 12th, while Lawson, in his return to Racing Bulls, placed 13th. Pierre Gasly of Alpine was in 14th, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who struggled with the handling of his car, rounding off the bottom half of the top 15.
Further down the order, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll finished 16th, with Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg and Haas drivers Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon in 17th, 18th, and 19th, respectively. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto completed the session in 20th place.
The session was largely a good start for McLaren, with Norris showing strong pace, while Mercedes also seemed competitive, with Russell and Hamilton both finishing within the top five. Red Bull Racing, while not on top, had a decent showing with Verstappen and Tsunoda, the latter adapting quickly to his new team. The session gave a glimpse of the competitive battle between these teams as the weekend progresses, with teams aiming to optimize their performance ahead of qualifying.
