Landnoris topped the final practice at the Japanese Grand Prix as grass fires broke out around the Suzuka Circuit.
Norris, the driver’s championship leader, struggled to control the car for most of the session, but delivered a 1:27.965 hour to lock out McLaren’s teammate Oscar Piastri in just a few hundredths of a second.
The only driver who appears to have a pace to challenge McLaren in pole position, living in SkySport F1 at 7am is George Russell, who was a tenth back from Mercedes Norris.
Ferrari left the pace with Charles Leclerc fourth and Lewis Hamilton sixth, leaving McLaren with a half-second pair and pace.
Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen split Ferraris into fifth, but at the end of the session he told Team Radio that his Red Bull was “all the shop.”
Verstappen’s new teammate Yuki Tsunoda was three-tenths back from the ninth Dutchman, with Williams’ Alex Albon and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in front of him.
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Gabriel Boltreto screams team radio after hitting the grass and leading to a near mistake.
Tsunoda makes his Red Bull debut after Liam Lawson was promoted from the Junior Squad Racing Bulls with an astonishing switch to only two races in the season.
However, when the second grass fire-powered red flag in the session was thrown with seven minutes remaining, it became unclear as many of the fields were prevented from completing the final qualification simulation.
For the same reason, a similar length of delay occurred early in the session, with two red flags in the second practice on Friday.
The FIA cut grass and wet before the session to try to overcome the problem, but the possibility of further qualifying disruptions had a serious potential impact on Sunday’s race.
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Sky F1’s Anthony Davidson explains that Jack Doohan’s fast crash on the Japanese Grand Prix FP2 is caused by the Alpine driver forgetting to close the DR.
In a statement released shortly after the final practice, the FIA said:
McLaren has maintained its position as a clear favourite that will appear in the third round of the season, following the victory of Norris and Piastri from Australia and China.
On Saturday they managed to do a successive practice session with a 1-2 finish, but Norris seemed to be upset in the cockpit, hitting the gravel twice on the second Degner curve.
The fact that he clearly hasn’t found the optimal balance for his car yet suggests that the second pole of the season is very achievable for Britt, but Piastri and Russell are waiting to be hit by any error.
Jack Doohan was 14th in the Alpine as the Australian rookie returned to the track following a big crash in his second practice.
Three time sheets for Japanese GP practice
Driver Team Time 1) Randorori McLaren 1: 27.965 2) Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.026 3) George Russell Mercedes +0.112 4) Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.449 8) Pierre Guthri Alpine +0.638 9) Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +0.820 10) Isaac Haddger RB +0.821 11) Carlos Signes Williams +0.881 12) Liam Lawson RB +1.139 13) Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +1.161 161 Alonso Aston Martin +1.807 16) Oliver Bearman Haas +2.119 17) Gabriel Boltreto Sauber +2.169 18) Esteban Oconhaas +2.218 19) Lancestrol Aston Martin +2.302 20) Nicofurkenberg Sauber +2.656656
Sky Sports F1 Live Japanese GP Schedule
Saturday, April 5th
6am: Japanese GP Qualifier Build-Up* 7am: Japanese GP Qualifier* 9am: Ted’s Qualifier Notebook*
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This is the paddock pass for the Japanese Grand Prix. Naomischiff will be participating while sharing sneak peaks in Suzuki!
Sunday, April 6th
4:30am: Japanese GP Build-Up: Grand Prix Sunday * 6am: Japanese Grand Prix * 8am: Japanese GP Reaction: Checkered Flag * 9am: Ted Notebook *
* Live at Sky Sports Main Event
The Formula will be located this weekend at the Suzuka Circuit, the iconic Japanese Grand Prix. Live at Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports Now – No Contract, Cancel Anytime
