F1 Japanese GP: Norris tops FP1 from Russell, Tsunoda sixth for Red Bull

Lando Norris headlined the opening practice session of Formula 1’s Japanese Grand Prix, as Yuki Tsunoda was just a tenth behind Max Verstappen in his first official run for Red Bull.

Norris overcame a series of scrappy moments earlier in the session, particularly as his aggressive approach to the Casio Triangle ended in a near spin and, later, a brief off on the gravel on the corner exit.

But the Briton then set the best first two sectors of the session, and then perhaps took a bit of margin through the final chicane, on his fastest tour to set a 1m28.549s on the soft tyre.

This put him 0.163s clear of George Russell, who was sat at the top of the timesheets through both medium and soft-tyre runs before Norris eclipsed him with an eventual clean run.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton slotted into third and fourth despite Leclerc stating that he was struggling with car deceleration in the corners, with Hamilton just 0.014s clear of Max Verstappen.

Verstappen reported struggles with car flexing in the second sector, and was just 0.107s clear of Tsunoda, as the Japanese driver got his first taste of Red Bull’s RB21 after his promotion from Racing Bulls. Tsunoda reported that he “found the car interesting” on the radio after the session, but noted that it was a good session regardless.

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Fernando Alonso put himself into the top seven ahead of Isack Hadjar, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz completed the top 10 – although the two suffered subsequent missteps on their longer runs.

Sainz reported that he didn’t like the sharper front end of the Williams after a set-up change, while Antonelli had a moment at the hairpin in sector two. Alex Albon, who was 11th, also sustained a similar off to Antonelli after his car understeered at the slowest corner on the circuit.

Alpine reserve Ryo Hirakawa was 12th, just 0.845s from Norris’ benchmark in his first outing with the A525, which put him 0.15s clear of regular driver Pierre Gasly.

The Alpines were split by Liam Lawson in his return to the Racing Bulls fold.

Oscar Piastri failed to get a truly competitive lap in after struggling with his McLaren during the earlier soft-tyre runs, and placed only 15th.