Japanese GP: Norris leads Russell in FP1 - Tsunoda in the mix

Under the crisp April skies and cherry blossoms of Suzuka, Lando Norris snatched the spotlight in the opening practice session for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, clocking the fastest lap in a McLaren that seemed more temperamental than triumphant.

The championship leader edged Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.163s while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third but nearly half a second adrift.

Max Verstappen was fifth in the running order, but his new team mate Yuki Tsunoda produced a strong first impression, the local hero ending FP1 in sixth position and just 0.050s behind the Dutchman.

• Japanese Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results

Norris’ session was anything but flawless – the McLaren charger veering off at the chicane and grumbling about tyre graining on the mediums – but the Briton still edged out the pack.

Red Bull rolled out their striking white-and-red liveried RB21s, and their new driver lineup didn’t disappoint, with the stopwatch telling a promising story for both Verstappen and Tsunoda, and their updated RB21.

Russell’s Mercedes flashed early pace on the mediums, only to settle for second on softs, a tantalizing tenth shy of Norris.

His rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli, despite a gravelly skid at the hairpin, nabbed ninth.

Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton kept it tight, finishing third and fourth—sandwiching the top five with precision and poise ahead of the Red Bulls.

Midfield Madness and Mishaps

The midfield delivered its own hierarchy, with Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar dazzling once again in eighth, splitting Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin and teammate Liam Lawson in 13th.

Fr some obscure reason, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri languished in 15th, while Carlos Sainz Jnr recovered from a pit-lane blunder – zipping past Williams’ garage – to snag 10th.

Alexander Albon, like Antonelli, kissed the hairpin gravel but stayed upright.

Alpine’s test ace Ryo Hirakawa shone with a clean run to 12th, leaving Pierre Gasly trailing by nearly a second.

Haas debuted a new VF-25 floor, but their drivers hovered near the back, outpacing only Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto.

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