Verstappen returns in Japan with fastest FP1 time
After ending his last outing in flames, Max Verstappen was hot out of the gates in Japan, topping the first practice session of the weekend with a time of 1:30.056s, ahead of his teammate, Sergio Perez and last round’s winner, Carlos Sainz.
Just one week after a thrilling display at Albert Park, Formula 1 headed just over 5000 miles north to do it all over again at the iconic Suzuka circuit in Japan.
What usually takes place in the back end of the season, the rejigged calendar now sees the Japanese Grand Prix running at the height of the Cherry Blossom season, setting a beautiful backdrop for an exciting weekend of racing.
As the light went green, it was the green Aston Martin that led the latest rookie out on track for FP1.
Former F2 driver, Ayumu Iwasa commandeered Daniel Ricciardo’s VCARB 01 for the opening practice session of the weekend, ticking off one of RB’s rookie practice runs of the season at Iwasa’s home event.
The rest of the grid followed suit, with all drivers having taken to the “cross-over” circuit within the first five minutes of the hour-long session.
Ayumu Iwasa driving the VCARB01 during FP1 at his home Grand Prix. Image: Peter Fox/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
With so many on track at once, a traffic paradise was inevitable.
Coming through Turns 16 and 17, George Russell jumped on the radio to complain of a McLaren stopping mid-corner to build a gap ahead, holding up himself, an RB and a Red Bull on their first out-laps.
As the opening times began rolling in, Lando Norris found himself at the top of the order with a time of 1:31.781s.
Just 32 milliseconds behind was Sergio Perez, slotting into P2 on the hard compound tyre which happens to be the C1 this weekend.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri’s opening time was over a second slower than Norris’, both McLarens setting their times on the medium compound.
Logan Sargeant, controversially running the repaired Williams chassis after being sidelined in Australia, had a scrappy trip across the kerbs at Turns 16 and 17, wrestling his FW46 away from an early spin as he set the slowest time on the board.
His teammate was still back in the team’s garage, setting off on an out-lap just 15 minutes into the session.
Lance Stroll, who was originally the first driver out on track in FP1, found himself sitting in his garage for longer than ideal after sustaining damage to his rear aero-rake in the opening moments.
The Canadian was also the sole Aston Martin driver to be running a heavily upgraded package, with the team focusing on a recalibrated sidepod design.
It was Fernando Alonso, however, who was matching Norris’ fastest time on the board.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin, during FP1 at the Japanese GP. Image: Simon Galloway / LAT Images.
Expectedly, Iwasa was cautious around the unforgiving 5.8km circuit, sitting just over 3 seconds off the pace in Ricciardo’s lended car.
His fellow Japanese teammate was higher up the order, marginally within the top ten fastest times with a time of 1:32.285s.
Just prior to the halfway mark of the session, Max Verstappen brought his usual flare to the timing sheets, jumping into P1 by over three-tenths before a lull fell over Suzuka.
Lewis Hamilton was the first driver to take to the soft compound, immediately setting fastest sectors before crossing the line almost a second quicker than Verstappen.
Normal service resumed for Max Verstappen. Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images/ Red Bull Content Pool
His red-marked run was brought to a red-flagged, however, when yellow flags at Turn 7 were upgraded.
The Williams garage’s hearts sank when it was revealed that a stricken Sargeant was the cause of the red flag.
The American skated off the kerb and along the grass as he rounded the fast-paced Turn 7, sending his FW46 on a rough ride across the gravel into the tyre barrier.
It was a heavy hit for Sargeant, with the car plummeting nose-first into the barriers before bouncing along the border, raising concerns for the repaired chassis on the #2’s car.
Sargeant was okay after the incident, apologising to his team over the radio, as for his car, however, only time will tell.
Logan Sargeant, Williams, walks away from his damaged car after a crash in FP1 at the Japanese GP. Image: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images.
The session restarted with under 20 minutes remaining, with most drivers sporting the soft compound as they were released from the pitlane.
It was a battle for track position between Alonso, Sainz and Russell, with the trio racing one another through the opening sector.
Another battle for position unfolded at the pit exit, when Nico Hulkenberg crossed the pit exit line to pass the slow RB ahead.
The Haas driver was shown the black and white flag, handed out for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Back out front, Verstappen was the first to set off on a flying lap, ultimately demoting Hamilton’s formerly fastest time by almost five-tenths.
His teammate soon accompanied him in the top two, sitting marginally ahead of Sainz.
Charles Leclerc wasn’t able to match his teammate, falling into P6 which was behind both Mercedes drivers.
As for the McLaren’s soft tyre runs, their times were less impactful than when on the mediums.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, during FP1 at the Japanese GP. Image: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images.
Piastri’s red-marked run saw him down in P8, 1.1 seconds off the benchmark, while Norris was just under eight-hundredths back in P10.
With five minutes remaining, the sole-running rookie got his #40 RB into P15, notably ahead of Pierre Gasly.
Times dropped off and it was relatively smooth running until the chequered flag, ending the first practice session of the weekend.
Max Verstappen remained with the fastest time of the hour session, a 1:30.056s, with his teammate and Carlos Sainz slotting in behind by two-tenths.
After the driver completed their practice starts on the grid, it was back to their garages for slight tweaks before this afternoon’s FP2 session at 5:00 PM, AEST.
Free Practice 1 Results:
| POS | DRIVER | TIME | GAP | LAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1:30.056 | 17 | ||
| 2 | 1:30.237 | +0.181s | 17 | |
| 3 | 1:30.269 | +0.213s | 19 | |
| 4 | 1:30.530 | +0.474s | 17 | |
| 5 | 1:30.543 | +0.487s | 22 | |
| 6 | 1:30.558 | +0.502s | 17 | |
| 7 | 1:30.599 | +0.543s | 19 | |
| 8 | 1:31.165 | +1.109s | 22 | |
| 9 | 1:31.230 | +1.174s | 19 | |
| 10 | 1:31.240 | +1.184s | 21 | |
| 11 | 1:31.935 | +1.879s | 18 | |
| 12 | 1:31.943 | +1.887s | 17 | |
| 13 | 1:31.958 | +1.902s | 18 | |
| 14 | 1:32.054 | +1.998s | 17 | |
| 15 | 1:32.055 | +1.999s | 16 | |
| 16 | 1:32.103 | +2.047s | 22 | |
| 17 | 1:32.277 | +2.221s | 22 | |
| 18 | 1:32.638 | +2.582s | 17 | |
| 19 | 1:32.803 | +2.747s | 20 | |
| 20 | 1:33.204 | +3.148s | 10 |
2024 Japanese Grand Prix
Friday, April 5
Practice 1: 13.30-14.30
Practice 2: 17.00-18.00
Saturday, April 6
Practice 3: 13.30-14.30
Qualifying: 17.00-18.00
Sunday, April 7
Grand Prix: 15.00
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