Antonelli leads dominant Mercedes 1-2 in Suzuka FP3 as Norris faces more reliability woes

Kimi Antonelli led a commanding Mercedes 1-2 in final practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, finishing eight-tenths of a second clear of the nearest non-Mercedes driver. The session was overshadowed for McLaren, however, as Lando Norris faced yet another reliability setback, missing most of the running due to an ERS issue on his car.

Why it matters:

Mercedes' staggering pace advantage in FP3 sends a clear warning to rivals like Ferrari and Red Bull ahead of qualifying, suggesting the Brackley squad has unlocked significant performance at a high-speed circuit that traditionally suits their car. For McLaren and Lando Norris, the recurring technical problems are becoming a concerning pattern that threatens to derail their championship momentum, especially after a DNS in China and a hydraulic issue on Friday.

The details:

• Mercedes Dominance: Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time of 1:29.362, with teammate George Russell just 0.254s behind in second. Their margin over third-placed Charles Leclerc's Ferrari was a substantial 0.867 seconds.
• Norris's Troubles: McLaren confirmed an issue with the Energy Recovery System (ERS) pack on Norris's car at the start of the session. The team initially said it was "extremely unlikely" he would participate, but managed to get him out for a limited run in the final 25 minutes, where he finished sixth.
• Session Highlights:
  • Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton traded early fastest times before being eclipsed by the Mercedes duo.
  • Oliver Bearman had a dramatic spin at the exit of Spoon Curve but managed to keep his Haas out of the barriers.
  • Several drivers reported being impeded, including Valtteri Bottas by Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg by Oscar Piastri.
  • Red Bull's Max Verstappen could only manage eighth, over 1.5 seconds off the pace, suggesting the team may have been running a different program.

What's next:

All eyes will be on whether Mercedes can translate its formidable one-lap practice pace into a genuine pole position challenge during qualifying. For McLaren, the priority is ensuring Norris's car is fully resolved and reliable for the rest of the weekend. The size of Mercedes' advantage also raises questions about race trim and whether they can maintain this performance edge over a full Grand Prix distance on Sunday.