Lando Norris Fastest in First Practice for Japanese Grand Prix

Norris leads the way in Japan as McLaren driver sets the pace in first practice, with Tsunoda and Verstappen close behind.

McLaren's championship leader Lando Norris topped the timesheets in the first practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix on Friday, with a fastest lap of 1:28.549. Norris's impressive performance set the pace for the rest of the field, with Mercedes' George Russell finishing second, just 0.163 seconds behind the McLaren driver.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion, finished fifth, with his new teammate Yuki Tsunoda just 0.107 seconds behind him in sixth place. Tsunoda, who made his Red Bull debut, was 0.623 seconds slower than Norris's quickest lap. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished third and fourth, respectively, in the practice session.

Tsunoda's impressive performance came after he was suddenly promoted to a Red Bull seat last week, replacing Liam Lawson, who was axed just two races into the Formula 1 season. Lawson, who returned to an RB car following his demotion, finished 13th in the practice session. Tsunoda's home crowd will be eager to see him build on this promising start in the remainder of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.

Yuki Tsunoda, determined to make the most of his opportunity, took to the Suzuka track with focus and determination. As he navigated the familiar circuit in warm sunshine, he radioed his team, saying, “Let's focus on ourselves.” Later, he described the car as “interesting” to drive, indicating that he was still getting accustomed to its handling.

Reigning champion Max Verstappen, aiming for his fourth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix title, seemed less than pleased with his car's performance. Over the team radio, he expressed his concerns, saying, “It's super-weird man, the car is flexing a lot.” This issue may hinder his chances of securing a fourth straight win in Japan.

Lando Norris sets the fastest time in FP1 👏

The full classification from first practice 👇#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/RH1ud0qNxP

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 4, 2025

The first practice session at Suzuka got underway with Haas driver Oliver Bearman taking to the track first, followed by the rest of the field under clear blue skies and moderate winds. However, the session was not without incident, as several drivers, including Lando Norris, Alex Albon, and Kimi Antonelli, all had excursions into the gravel. Norris, seeking his second grand prix win in three races, will be looking to regroup and refocus for the remainder of the weekend.

Norris's teammate, Oscar Piastri, who secured a win in Shanghai as part of a McLaren one-two, struggled to replicate that form in the first practice session, finishing 15th on the timesheets. Meanwhile, Norris will be aiming to build on his season-opening win in Australia and secure another victory in Japan.