Russell leads Mercedes one-two in Suzuka practice

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, George Russell leads the drivers' championship by four points from Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli

F1 Correspondent in SuzukaPublished2 hours ago39 CommentsGeorge Russell led team-mate Kimi Antonelli to a Mercedes one-two ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris in first practice at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Russell pipped Antonelli, who took his maiden win at the last race in China, by just 0.026 seconds after the two drivers swapped fastest times in the middle of the session.

World champion Norris was 0.132secs behind Russell in his McLaren.

Piastri was 0.199secs adrift, an encouraging start to the weekend for the Australian and McLaren, who have had a difficult first two grands prix.

Apart from the Shanghai sprint, Piastri has not completed a racing lap in 2026, and in China both McLarens retired with separate battery issues before the start.

The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were fifth and sixth fastest.

Leclerc was 0.289secs off the pace, completing his fastest lap after seven laps on the soft tyre following an off at the tricky Spoon Curve double left-hander. He headed Hamilton by 0.085secs.

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Red Bull's Max Verstappen, his car sporting an aerodynamic upgrade that featured new side pods, floor and engine cover, was seventh fastest, 0.791secs off the pace.

Both Verstappen and Norris were among the drivers to run wide at Spoon, where a tailwind on entry was causing problems.

Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad were eighth and 10th, sandwiching the Haas of Esteban Ocon.

Williams' Alex Albon had a torrid session, running off track and hitting the wall at Degner Two, traditionally one of the track's most demanding corners, midway through the session, before a spin after colliding with Cadillac's Sergio Perez, who appeared not to see Albon on the inside as the British-born Thai dived down the inside at the chicane.

The two Aston Martins brought up the tail of the field on a weekend on which engine partner Honda want to show improvement on its home track after a dire start to the season.

American reserve driver Jak Crawford, completing one of the team's mandatory young driver days, was in Fernando Alonso's car and was 22nd, just over a second slower than Lance Stroll.

Honda have introduced some changes that are hoped to address the engine-vibration issues that have been causing reliability problems and major discomfort for the drivers.

Aston Martin also have an aerodynamic upgrade for Japan, featuring a new engine cover and front-of-floor furniture.

27-29 March with race at 06:00 BST on Sunday

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