Red Bull immediately bounced back from its Singapore disappointment with Max Verstappen leading the way in FP1 at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The reigning World Champion took to the top of the timesheets from the outset, lowering the benchmark to 1:31.647s, 0.6s clear of Singapore winner Carlos Sainz.
Sainz wound up 0.3s clear of team-mate Charles Leclerc, with the Ferraris split by McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Yuki Tsunoda emerged fifth in the opening practice hour at his home event.
The sister AlphaTauri of Liam Lawson was ninth, behind Oscar Piastri in the second of McLarens, Alex Albon and Fernando Alonso.
Both Aston Martins were inside the top half of the order with Lance Stroll rounding out the top 10.
Position
Driver
Team
Time Gap
Laps
1
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
1:31.647
24
2
Carlos Sainz Jr
Ferrari
1:32.273 0.626
24
3
Lando Norris
McLaren
1:32.392 0.745
24
4
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
1:32.574 0.927
25
5
Yuki Tsunoda
AlphaTauri
1:32.597 0.950
20
6
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
1:32.650 1.003
23
7
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
1:32.713 1.066
25
8
Alex Albon
Williams
1:32.991 1.344
24
9
Liam Lawson
AlphaTauri
1:33.005 1.358
27
10
Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
1:33.040 1.393
17
11
Sergio Perez
Red Bull
1:33.043 1.396
24
12
Pierre Gasly
Alpine
1:33.129 1.482
22
13
George Russell
Mercedes
1:33.310 1.663
23
14
Nico Hulkenberg
Haas
1:33.448 1.801
24
15
Esteban Ocon
Alpine
1:33.516 1.869
21
16
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
1:33.699 2.052
21
17
Valtteri Bottas
Alfa Romeo
1:33.860 2.213
23
18
Kevin Magnussen
Haas
1:33.975 2.328
23
19
Logan Sargeant
Williams
1:34.212 2.565
26
20
Guanyu Zhou
Alfa Romeo
1:34.831 3.184
22
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