Mercedes dominate Suzuka FP3: Antonelli leads the 1-2, Leclerc third

Mercedes sent a clear warning shot to the rest of the field in final practice for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, locking out the top two positions at Suzuka with Kimi Antonelli leading George Russell in a commanding display of one-lap pace.

Antonelli delivers statement lap

Antonelli’s benchmark came on a fresh set of soft tyres during his fourth stint, and crucially, it was set in like-for-like conditions with Russell. There were no caveats, no traffic excuses, and no reliability gremlins — just pure pace.

Having already taken a maiden Grand Prix win earlier this season, Antonelli looks increasingly comfortable at the sharp end. His session was meticulously built: multiple short soft-tyre runs followed by longer stints, giving him both qualifying rhythm and race data.

Russell, who has been equally impressive in 2026, could not quite match the final punch. His best effort, a 1:29.616, also came on new softs, but he remained a quarter of a second adrift. The intra-team battle is intensifying — and Suzuka may be the stage for another chapter.

Ferrari lead the chase, but the gap is huge

Charles Leclerc ended FP3 in third with a 1:30.229, the only non-Mercedes driver within a second of Antonelli. While Ferrari appear to have leapfrogged McLaren in the pecking order, the Scuderia still face a daunting deficit.

Lewis Hamilton improved late in the session to finish fifth, just 0.019s behind Oscar Piastri, but he was over a second slower than his former team. The seven-time world champion had admitted he was “fighting” the car on Friday, and although progress was evident, Ferrari still lack the outright performance of Mercedes.

A lap deletion for track limits and some scrappy moments underline that Ferrari’s window remains narrow at this high-speed, high-commitment circuit.

McLaren hampered by reliability issues

McLaren’s weekend continues to be defined by mechanical frustrations — particularly on Lando Norris’ side of the garage.

A battery issue kept Norris in the pits for more than half of FP3, leaving him desperately short on laps. When he finally emerged, he managed only two short soft-tyre stints, eventually finishing sixth with a 1:30.600. Given the limited preparation, it was a respectable recovery — but far from ideal ahead of Qualifying.

Piastri, fourth overall, looked more comfortable and extracted the maximum from his runs. However, McLaren’s raw pace appears to have dipped compared to Friday, and they now seem locked in a battle with Ferrari for the second row rather than challenging Mercedes for pole.

Red Bull struggling as Audi impress

Verstappen frustrated

Max Verstappen endured a deeply frustrating session, finishing eighth and 1.5 seconds off Antonelli’s leading time. Over team radio, the Dutchman labelled his shifts “horrendous” before unleashing an expletive-laden rant about the RB22’s driveability.

Red Bull ran a mix of medium and soft compounds, searching for answers, but the balance never looked settled. Isack Hadjar was just 0.184s behind his team mate in 11th, underlining how closely matched the pair were — and how far off the front Red Bull currently are.

Audi’s breakthrough weekend?

In contrast, Audi delivered one of their strongest sessions of the season. Nico Hulkenberg secured seventh with a 1:30.658, while Gabriel Bortoleto completed the top 10 in ninth.

Both drivers logged meaningful mileage on mediums and softs after reliability woes earlier in the weekend. If they can carry this form into Qualifying — and crucially, into race day without mechanical issues — Audi could be genuine contenders for Q3 and points.

Incidents and talking points

Oliver Bearman’s spin at Turn 14 brought out double yellow flags and compromised his soft-tyre preparation, forcing him back onto mediums and leaving him 15th. The moment also triggered multiple lap deletions, including for Russell and Antonelli under double yellows.

Elsewhere, a Turn 15 incident between Piastri and Hulkenberg was noted and will be investigated after the session.

At the rear, Aston Martin endured a torrid hour, with Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso propping up the timesheets.

Qualifying outlook: a two-horse race?

On the evidence of FP3, pole position at the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix appears to be a straight fight between Antonelli and Russell. The gap to Ferrari and McLaren is significant, and Suzuka’s flowing layout offers few hiding places.

Mercedes are not just quick — they are stable, reliable, and extracting consistent performance from both cars.

Unless conditions change dramatically, the rest may be fighting for third on the grid.