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George Russell laid down an early marker at the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, topping Practice 1 at Suzuka as Mercedes continued their strong start to the season. Round 3 of the championship began under clear skies at the 5.807km circuit, and it was the championship leader who edged team mate Kimi Antonelli in a session defined by fine margins, traffic, and a handful of incidents.
Russell’s benchmark of 1:31.666 on the C3 soft tyre was enough to secure P1, but only just. Antonelli finished a mere 0.026s behind after improving on his own soft-tyre run, setting up what promises to be a fascinating intra-team battle this weekend.
Mercedes were the first of the frontrunners to bolt on the soft compound, and Russell immediately delivered. Antonelli had earlier lost time with a small lock-up, which likely cost him a tenth or two, but the Italian rookie recovered well to keep the pressure firmly on his more experienced team mate.
With both drivers already race winners in 2026, the dynamic at Mercedes is becoming one of the stories of the season. Russell may have topped FP1 here and in China, but Antonelli is proving he is no understudy.
McLaren emerged as Mercedes’ closest challengers by the end of the hour. Lando Norris, who lost early track time due to a garage issue, rebounded to finish third with a 1:31.798, just 0.132s off top spot. Oscar Piastri was fourth, only 0.067s behind Norris.
That close intra-team margin underlines how evenly matched the McLaren pairing is. After a difficult Sunday in Shanghai where neither car started the race, this was a much-needed clean session—aside from a deleted lap for Norris due to track limits at Turn 14.
McLaren ran differing programmes early on, with Norris on mediums while others pushed on softs, but their ultimate pace suggests they are firmly in the mix behind Mercedes.
Ferrari slotted into fifth and sixth, Charles Leclerc leading Lewis Hamilton. Just 0.085s separated the Scuderia pair, with Leclerc posting a 1:31.955 and Hamilton a 1:32.040 on new softs.
While Ferrari look competitive, they were a step behind Mercedes and McLaren on outright pace. An incident between Hamilton and Max Verstappen at Turn 15 was noted and will be investigated after the session, adding a touch of spice to proceedings.
Verstappen could manage only seventh, over seven tenths off Russell’s time. The Red Bull driver struggled with balance early on, even reporting a snap through the final corner, and never quite looked comfortable despite multiple runs on medium and soft tyres.
One of the standout stories from FP1 was Racing Bulls’ performance. Liam Lawson secured eighth, while rookie Arvid Lindblad continued his impressive start to 2026 in 10th. Lindblad, with no prior Suzuka experience, once again looked assured and consistently competitive.
Esteban Ocon split the Racing Bulls cars in ninth for Haas, continuing his solid early-season form. Oliver Bearman was 14th, but both Haas drivers showed enough to suggest a potential Q3 fight if conditions remain stable.
Audi also had both cars just outside the top 10, with Gabriel Bortoleto 11th and Nico Hulkenberg 12th, separated by just 0.039s at one stage.
Not everyone enjoyed a smooth hour. Alexander Albon endured a particularly scrappy session. After a trip through the gravel at the Degners—lightly brushing the barriers—he later collided with Sergio Perez at Turn 16.
Albon attempted a dive down the inside while both were pushing; Perez appeared unaware and turned in, sending the Williams into a spin and scattering debris. The incident prompted a Virtual Safety Car and is under investigation for causing a collision.
Williams’ struggles were evident, with Albon 18th and Carlos Sainz 17th. Cadillac also endured a tough outing, Perez and Valtteri Bottas down in 19th and 20th respectively.
Aston Martin rounded out the order, with Lance Stroll 21st and Jak Crawford 22nd. Crawford, running in place of Fernando Alonso for FP1, completed valuable mileage with aero rakes fitted early on as the team gathered data at Honda’s home race.
Suzuka’s flowing layout once again highlighted car balance and driver confidence. Mercedes look planted and predictable, McLaren are within striking distance, and Ferrari remain close but not quite on terms over one lap.
With gaps throughout the field often measured in hundredths, and multiple incidents already under the stewards’ microscope, the stage is set for an intense build-up to qualifying.
If FP1 is any indication, the fight at the front is shaping up to be a straight duel—Russell versus Antonelli—with Norris lurking dangerously close.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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