Mercedes leads opening practice in Suzuka as 2026 grid takes shape

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli delivered a Mercedes one-two in the opening practice session for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, signaling a potential shift in the competitive order. Lando Norris led McLaren's charge in third, while Ferrari and Red Bull found themselves outside the top three in a session that offered the first glimpse of the new-look F1 grid in action.

Why it matters:

The first practice session of a new era often sets early narratives, and Mercedes' strong showing at a demanding circuit like Suzuka suggests their 2026 project has started on the right foot. With a radically different driver lineup featuring several rookies, this session provided crucial initial data on team performance and the adaptation of new drivers to their machinery and one of F1's most technical tracks.

The details:

• Mercedes on top: George Russell led the way, with highly-touted rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli just behind, showcasing immediate pace and potential for the Silver Arrows.
• McLaren close behind: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured third and fourth, confirming McLaren as likely contenders and the closest challengers to Mercedes in this early running.
• Ferrari & Red Bull playing catch-up: Charles Leclerc was best of the rest in fifth, with Lewis Hamilton sixth in the other Ferrari. Max Verstappen could only manage seventh for Red Bull, with new teammate Isack Hadjar down in 13th.
• Rookie watch: Beyond Antonelli, other debutants had mixed fortunes. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) was 10th, while Gabriel Bortoleto led Audi's effort in 11th. Ollie Bearman (Haas) and Franco Colapinto (Alpine) finished 14th and 16th respectively.
• Team struggles: The new Cadillac team, with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, propped up the timesheets in 19th and 20th, while Aston Martin also languished at the bottom with Lance Stroll and Jak Crawford.

What's next:

FP1 times are rarely representative of true qualifying pace, but the pecking order hinted at by Mercedes and McLaren will be tested further in the second practice session. All eyes will be on whether Ferrari and Red Bull can close the gap with setup changes, and how the rookie drivers continue to adapt. The real test comes in qualifying, where the first concrete evidence of the 2026 competitive hierarchy will be laid bare at the iconic Suzuka circuit.