Piastri tops Japanese GP practice but Mercedes threat looms

McLaren's Oscar Piastri set the fastest time in second practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, but 2009 champion Jenson Button immediately cautioned that Mercedes likely has more performance in reserve. The session saw Piastri edge out the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, while his teammate Lando Norris lost valuable track time due to a hydraulic issue, finishing fourth.

Why it matters:

After a disastrous start to the 2026 season where both McLarens failed to start in China and Piastri has yet to start a Grand Prix, a strong practice showing is a vital morale boost. However, true pace is often hidden on Friday, making Button's warning a sobering reminder that beating Mercedes in a single practice session is different from challenging them in qualifying and the race.

The details:

• Piastri's Clean Run: The Australian driver had a smooth and issue-free day at the demanding Suzuka circuit, building confidence through the technical Esses and appearing comfortable with the car's balance.
• Norris's Hydraulic Hiccup: Lando Norris confirmed a hydraulic problem limited his running, stating, "I couldn't do more than one lap at the beginning." While the issue improved, the lost laps are a significant setback for building rhythm at such a challenging track.
• Expert Analysis: Former Aston Martin strategist Bernie Collins noted on Sky Sports F1 that while missing laps is "not ideal," Norris's experience and ability to analyze Piastri's data should help him recover in FP3.
• The Mercedes Question: The core intrigue comes from Jenson Button's pointed observation: "We don't know what Mercedes is holding back, do we?" This casts Piastri's headline time in a different light, suggesting the reigning champions may not have shown their full hand.

What's next:

All eyes will be on FP3 and qualifying to see if McLaren's pace is genuine.

• Norris will need a clean final practice session to make up for lost time and dial in his car for qualifying.
• The true test will be whether Piastri and Norris can translate their Friday promise into a sustained challenge to Mercedes when it counts in Q3.
• If Mercedes does indeed unlock more performance, as Button suspects, the battle for pole could revert to a familiar silver arrow versus the rest dynamic, with McLaren fighting to be best of the chasing pack.