McLaren Surprise Mercedes As Piastri Tops Practice At Japanese Grand Prix

McLaren Turn Heads At Suzuka

Day one at the Japanese Grand Prix delivered an early surprise.

Oscar Piastri put McLaren on top of the timesheets — and it caught George Russell off guard.

Russell Admits Unexpected Pace

Coming into the weekend, Mercedes were expected to lead the charge.

But Piastri’s pace changed the narrative.

Russell, currently leading the championship, admitted:
McLaren’s speed was “a little bit of a surprise.”

Despite finishing third, he remains confident there’s more performance to unlock — especially with improvements in energy management.

McLaren Showing Real Threat

It wasn’t just Piastri.

Lando Norris also showed flashes of pace despite a disrupted session caused by a hydraulic issue.

While Norris struggled for rhythm, Piastri looked sharp from the very first lap — a sign McLaren could be serious contenders this weekend.

Mercedes Still Strong Over Race Distance

Even with McLaren’s one-lap speed, Mercedes aren’t backing down.

Kimi Antonelli — fresh off his maiden win in China — and Russell showed strong pace in race simulations.

That suggests:

• McLaren may challenge for pole
• Mercedes could still dominate on race day

The battle is shaping up to be tighter than expected.

Verstappen And Red Bull Struggle

Meanwhile, it was a difficult session for Max Verstappen.

The Red Bull Racing star could only manage 10th place, over a second off the pace.

His concerns:

• Poor balance
• Lack of grip
• Struggles in high-speed sections

A rare sight — Verstappen chasing rather than leading.

Ferrari Still Searching

For Ferrari, the issues continue.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton both struggled for confidence and grip.

Hamilton summed it up bluntly:
He felt “slow” due to lack of confidence in the car.

Suzuka Still Delivering

Despite concerns about hybrid energy management reducing the challenge, Suzuka remains a driver’s test.

From the Esses to Spoon Curve, precision still matters — and small mistakes can cost valuable time.

Final Whistle

Day one belongs to Oscar Piastri and McLaren.

But the bigger story?

This weekend is wide open.

Mercedes still look strong.
McLaren are pushing hard.
Red Bull are searching for answers.

And as always in Formula One — practice is just the beginning.

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