George Russell Tops Japanese GP Practice as Mercedes Dominate Suzuka
George Russell set the fastest time in first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, narrowly beating Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by just 0.026 seconds as the Silver Arrows secured a commanding one-two finish at the iconic Suzuka circuit. The championship leader's blistering pace underlines Mercedes' strong early-season form, with both drivers appearing to be the pair to beat heading into the weekend.
McLaren Show Strong Pace Behind Mercedes
World champion Lando Norris demonstrated McLaren's competitive edge by finishing third, just 0.132 seconds behind Russell's benchmark time. The British driver placed one position clear of teammate Oscar Piastri, with both McLaren drivers within two tenths of the leading Mercedes time. This represents an encouraging recovery for the Woking-based squad after both cars failed to start the previous round in China due to technical issues.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and sixth respectively, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen could only manage seventh position. The four-time world champion finished nearly eight tenths behind Russell, highlighting Red Bull's ongoing struggles this season. Verstappen won last year's Japanese Grand Prix, but the Austrian team appears significantly out of sorts, with teammate Isack Hadjar finishing a disappointing 13th.
Championship Battle Intensifies
The practice session intensified the championship battle between the Mercedes teammates. Russell currently leads Antonelli by just four points in the standings following the Italian teenager's maiden victory in China. Both drivers have secured one win apiece so far this season, setting the stage for an intriguing intra-team rivalry as the European leg of the championship approaches.
Incidents and Struggles Down the Grid
Further down the order, Williams driver Alex Albon crashed into the side of Cadillac's Sergio Perez at the final chicane, damaging his front wing and spinning during the unexpected collision. "I don't know if he saw me," said Albon over team radio, while Perez responded: "Oh my God. I had no idea that the Williams was next to us. He crashed into me." The incident left Albon finishing only 18th, one place behind teammate Carlos Sainz as Williams' difficult start to the new campaign looks set to continue into the third round.
Aston Martin's troubles showed few signs of abating, with drivers Lance Stroll and Jak Crawford – standing in for Fernando Alonso in first practice – propping up the order at the bottom of the timesheets. The British team continues to search for solutions to their performance deficit as the 2026 season develops.
The Japanese Grand Prix weekend continues with second practice later today, where teams will further refine their setups ahead of qualifying on Saturday. Mercedes' strong showing suggests they could be favorites for pole position, while McLaren and Ferrari will be looking to close the gap to the championship leaders.
