Antonelli Tops Final Practice in Japan as Norris Battles Battery Issue

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli set the pace in final practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, leading a team one-two ahead of George Russell. The session was disrupted for McLaren, which performed a rapid battery change on Lando Norris's car, allowing him to salvage crucial running and finish sixth.

Why it matters:

Final practice sets the immediate tone for qualifying, and Mercedes' strong showing signals they could be the team to beat for pole position at Suzuka. For McLaren, successfully overcoming a major technical issue so quickly minimizes the damage to Norris's preparation, keeping him in the fight for a high grid slot.

The details:

• Antonelli's best time of 1:29.362 was just over a quarter of a second clear of teammate George Russell, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc a distant third, nearly nine-tenths back.
• McLaren's Swift Fix: Lando Norris's session was in jeopardy before it began when a battery problem was detected. His team completed a full battery change in under 30 minutes, getting him on track with 22 minutes remaining to gather data.
• Audi Shows Promise: Both Audi drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, finished inside the top ten, highlighting the team's potential to challenge for Q3 in qualifying.
• Mixed Fortunes Elsewhere: Lewis Hamilton showed improved pace for Ferrari in fifth, while reigning champion Max Verstappen could only manage eighth for Red Bull. Aston Martin struggled at the bottom of the timesheets.

What's next:

All eyes turn to qualifying, where the true competitive order will be revealed.

• Mercedes will aim to convert their practice pace into a front-row lockout.
• McLaren will hope their fix holds and that both Norris and Oscar Piastri (who was fifth) can challenge at the sharp end.
• Audi's performance suggests a potential shake-up in the midfield, putting pressure on established teams like Red Bull and Alpine.