Mercedes leads Japan FP1 as Red Bull falters

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli secured a commanding one-two finish in the opening practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix, while a significant performance gap raised alarms for the upgraded Red Bull team. Russell set the fastest time of 1:31.666 on soft tyres, narrowly beating his teammate, with McLaren's Lando Norris a distant third. Max Verstappen could only manage seventh, over seven-tenths off the pace despite new parts on his car, in a session that also featured multiple driving incidents under investigation.

Why it matters:

The sheer performance gap to Red Bull is the standout story. With a major upgrade package fitted, Verstappen's RB22 was expected to be more competitive. Instead, finishing behind both Mercedes, McLarens, and Ferraris suggests the team may be struggling to unlock its new potential or is running a very different program, putting immediate pressure on their weekend setup. For Mercedes, the strong showing builds momentum after Antonelli's win in China and signals they could be the team to beat on a traditional, high-speed circuit like Suzuka.

The details:

• Mercedes' Session Control: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli traded fast laps on soft tyres, with Russell ultimately topping the timesheet by 0.026 seconds. Their pace on the soft compound was consistent and strong throughout the qualifying simulation runs.
• Red Bull's Worrying Gap: Max Verstappen ended the session 0.745 seconds behind Russell. While practice programs can be deceptive, such a large deficit with an upgrade package is unusual for the reigning champions and will be their primary focus heading into FP2.
• Mixed Tyre Strategies: The session began with varied approaches: Mercedes and McLaren on medium tyres, Ferrari on the hard compound. Charles Leclerc initially led the times on the hard rubber before the soft-tyre runs reshuffled the order.
• Incidents Under Review: The stewards are investigating four drivers for separate incidents:
  • A bizarre slow-driving conflict between Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson at the hairpin exit.
  • A crash involving Alex Albon and Sergio Perez at the final chicane in the session's closing moments.
• Session Notes: Fernando Alonso's reserve, Jak Crawford, finished slowest after completing only 11 laps.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Red Bull's response in FP2. The team must analyze the data from its upgrade package and determine if the gap is due to setup, engine modes, or a genuine lack of pace. For Mercedes, the goal will be to confirm their strong one-lap speed and translate it into consistent long-run performance. The investigated incidents could also lead to grid penalties, adding another layer of intrigue to the weekend's preparations.