Russell edges Antonelli in tight Mercedes 1-2 at Suzuka FP1

George Russell continued Mercedes' early 2026 dominance by topping the timesheets in first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, narrowly beating teammate Kimi Antonelli. The Silver Arrows' one-two finish at Suzuka signals their strong form is carrying over from the season's opening races, with McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri showing promising pace in third and fourth.

Why it matters:

Mercedes has won both races to start the 2026 season, and their immediate pace at the demanding Suzuka circuit suggests they remain the team to beat. For rivals like McLaren, who suffered a double DNF in China, and Ferrari, a strong showing here is critical to gauge their progress and challenge the established hierarchy early in this new regulatory era.

The details:

• Russell set the benchmark with a 1:31.666 on the soft tyre, just 0.026 seconds clear of Antonelli, who had briefly led the session.
• World Champion Lando Norris was third, 0.132s back, after a delayed start to his running for aerodynamic data collection.
• Oscar Piastri placed fourth for McLaren, two-tenths off the pace, as the team seeks redemption after battery failures sidelined both cars in Shanghai.
• Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were fifth and sixth, roughly three-tenths behind the leading Mercedes.
• Reigning champion Max Verstappen was a distant seventh for Red Bull, nearly eight-tenths off Russell's time.
• The session saw minor incidents: Alex Albon had a heavy off at Degner in his Williams, and later made contact with Sergio Perez's Cadillac at the chicane, damaging his front wing.
• At the rear, Aston Martin struggled significantly. Reserve driver Jak Crawford, in for Fernando Alonso, completed only 11 laps and was slowest, while Lance Stroll was 21st, over 3.6 seconds off the pace as the team balances performance with ongoing Honda power unit reliability concerns.

What's next:

The competitive order from FP1, while not definitive, sets a clear baseline. All eyes will be on whether Mercedes can maintain this advantage through qualifying trim on Saturday and if McLaren and Ferrari can close the gap. For Aston Martin and Honda, solving their performance and reliability woes remains a pressing and public challenge at the engine supplier's home race.