At the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Day 1 started with Mercedes showing incredible speed. George Russell topped Practice 1, leading a 1-2 finish ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli. McLaren looked strong, keeping pace closely, while Red Bull struggled as Max Verstappen experienced car instability and low pace, raising concerns in the team. The session set the stage for an exciting weekend.
Mercedes Dominates Early at 2026 Japanese Grand Prix
At the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, Mercedes began strongly at Suzuka as George Russell set the fastest lap in the opening practice with a time of 1:31.666. Close behind him was his teammate, the rookie Kimi Antonelli, who secured second place just 0.026 seconds slower.
The team locked out the top two positions early, showing their pace and confidence, and hinting that Mercedes could stay ahead throughout the race weekend. It was a strong start.
Mixed Fortunes Shape 2026 Japanese Grand Prix Practice
At the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, McLaren showed strong speed as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured third and fourth places in practice. Meanwhile, Red Bull faced issues, with Max Verstappen struggling due to cold brakes and poor car handling.
The session also saw drama when Alex Albon and Sergio Perez collided at the chicane. These moments made the session exciting and hinted at an unpredictable and competitive race weekend ahead at Suzuka
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Key Lessons From 2026 Japanese Grand Prix Weekend
At the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull faced concern as the RB22 showed instability and lacked pace, with upgrades not working as expected. In contrast, the midfield looked very close, with teams separated by small margins, promising a tight qualifying session.
Lewis Hamilton also said Ferrari did not have enough pace to fight at the front. These early signs suggested a challenging and competitive weekend developing at Suzuka for many teams.
Young Stars and Surprises at the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix
At the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli impressed for Mercedes by fighting for top positions in both practice sessions. Oscar Piastri stood out by setting the fastest time in FP2, showing strong pace for McLaren. Max Verstappen had a difficult day,
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finishing 10th in FP2 while struggling with car handling. Haas also showed progress, with Esteban Ocon taking P9 in FP1 and Oliver Bearman securing P9 in FP2, highlighting a competitive midfield battle.
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