FP1 results from Japan: Formula 1 lands in Suzuka, home circuit for Honda (and Yuki Tsunoda…)
After the Sprint weekend in China and a week-long break, Formula 1 has touched down in Mie Prefecture — more precisely, in the iconic city of Suzuka. A crucial weekend for Yuki Tsunoda, who not only gets to race in front of his home crowd but also makes his official debut in the Red Bull RB21.
FP1 results in Suzuka
Green light in Suzuka! The first free practice session of the Japanese GP ends with a familiar name on top: Lando Norris clocks the best time with a 1:28.549, capitalizing on a clean lap at just the right moment. McLaren looks sharp — really sharp.
Right behind him, just over a tenth and a half back, is George Russell in a Mercedes that seems determined to perform on a track that, on paper, isn’t its best fit.
Next up, Charles Leclerc, still seeking solid ground. The Monegasque had to lift off due to Hulkenberg playing the “impeding” role, leaving him with a time of +0.416 and a bitter taste.
Hamilton wraps up fourth (+0.502), Verstappen is fifth (+0.516), and keep an eye on Yuki Tsunoda: sixth place at +0.623, with his RB21 seemingly tailored for him. In the final minutes of the session, teams began their first long-run simulations — a clear sign that race pace will be key this weekend in Japan.
Japanese GP – What’s Next
With FP1 done and dusted, drivers now have time for a debrief before heading back on track: next up is Free Practice 2, scheduled for 8:30 AM local time to wrap up Friday’s action.
Photo: Oracle Red Bull Racing