Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time for Mercedes in final practice at Suzuka, leading a 1-2 with George Russell. The session saw Lando Norris recover from a battery issue to finish sixth, while Max Verstappen struggled down in eighth, setting up an intriguing battle for qualifying.
Kimi Antonelli led a Mercedes 1-2 in final practice for the Japanese GP, while Friday leader McLaren fell back with pace and reliability issues. Audi impressed with both cars in the top ten, and Aston Martin struggled badly at Honda's home circuit.
Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time in final practice at Suzuka, leading a Mercedes 1-2 with George Russell. The result marks a strong rebound for the team and a standout performance for the rookie, putting them in a promising position ahead of qualifying while rivals like Ferrari and McLaren trailed behind.
Kimi Antonelli outpaced Mercedes teammate George Russell in final practice at Suzuka, establishing himself as the pole position favorite. Mercedes showed dominant pace, leaving rivals over a second behind, while Lando Norris faced more reliability concerns with his McLaren.
Oscar Piastri received a stewards' reprimand for impeding Nico Hulkenberg's flying lap in Japanese GP practice, while teammate Lando Norris's session was compromised by an ERS issue, marking a challenging build-up to qualifying for McLaren.
The final practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix is running at Suzuka, providing teams one last opportunity to optimize car setups before qualifying. With its challenging, high-speed layout, this hour is vital for drivers to find rhythm and for engineers to confirm strategic choices ahead of the decisive fight for grid positions.
Lando Norris's final practice session at the Japanese GP was disrupted by a battery issue, similar to a problem in China. McLaren CEO Zak Brown confirmed the team and engine supplier Mercedes HPP were working on a fix, but valuable setup time was lost at the critical Suzuka circuit.
Red Bull's public handling of a media clash involving Max Verstappen in Japan has sparked criticism, revealing a potential rift. The team's decision to publicly signal a reprimand, rather than firmly back its star driver, marks a shift from its traditionally protective culture and risks damaging the crucial trust with the four-time champion.
Kimi Antonelli's breakthrough win for Mercedes has made him a national hero in Italy, creating a major problem for Ferrari. The Scuderia, which missed the chance to sign the Italian prodigy, now watches as its historic role as the nation's team is challenged by a rival's star, risking a shift in the allegiance of future fans.
Ahead of the Japanese GP, Lewis Hamilton surprised local car enthusiasts by arriving at a Yokohama meet in a rare Ferrari F40. He spent his weekend immersing himself in Japanese car culture and even took a samurai lesson, highlighting his deep appreciation for the country's traditions and automotive scene.
Carlos Sainz was left shocked by his Williams car's severe lack of pace on high-fuel runs during Japanese GP practice, despite the team making clear progress in one-lap performance. He called for urgent analysis into the discrepancy, which he described as potentially worse than the issues faced in Shanghai.
Friday practice at the Japanese GP revealed a three-pronged story: McLaren showed surprising pace to challenge Mercedes in qualifying, Max Verstappen's father voiced concerns about his son's fading motivation amid Red Bull's struggles, and shocking telemetry exposed extreme 'super-clipping' issues causing massive speed losses for drivers at Suzuka.
