McLaren recovers ground in Japan with Piastri’s fastest lap in F1 training

McLaren demonstrated significant recovery during first free practice for Grande Prêmio from Japão into Suzuka. Oscar Piastri recorded the fastest lap of the session with a time of 1min30s133. Lando Norris completed the team’s good performance by finishing in fourth place.

The British team has 18 points in the constructors’ standings after the first two stages of the season. McLaren’s initial results included two retirements, which sparked internal concern. Agora, drivers express renewed confidence in the car’s potential for the 2026 season.

McLaren performance on the Japanese circuit

Piastri’s fastest lap marked McLaren’s competitive return after early season difficulties. Norris reinforced confidence in the team by declaring that he believes the car is one of the strongest on the grid. The duo’s stated goal is to achieve consistent podiums and resume race victories.

McLaren engineers worked on specific adjustments to the technical layout of Suzuka. Essas modifications allowed for better performance from the MCL39 in high-speed curves. The team avoided mechanical problems that compromised the previous stages.

Red Bull records times far from the lead

Red Bull faced a difficult training session in Suzuka, with Max Verstappen finishing only in tenth position. The four-time champion registered more than a second disadvantage in relation to his time of Piastri. The team publicly admitted the car’s lack of overall performance.

The head of Red Bull, Laurent Mekies, commented that the team is far from the leaders and that there are several performance points missing. Sergio Perez also failed to achieve competitive times during the session. The team has accumulated 12 points in the constructors’ table so far.

Mercedes occupies intermediate positions at the top

Kimi Antonelli had the second best time in free practice, just behind Piastri. George Russell, current leader of the drivers’ championship with 51 points, finished third. The Mercedes leads the constructors’ championship with 98 points.

Ferrari placed Charles Leclerc in fifth and Lewis Hamilton in sixth. Hamilton expressed a lack of confidence in the car during statements after the session. The Italian team has 67 points in the general classification.

Other training highlights in Suzuka

Nico Hülkenberg, from Audi, recorded the seventh best time and is looking for the first points of the season with the new team. The session served as preparation for the qualifying scheduled for Saturday and the main race on Sunday, both starting at 7am local time. Devido to previous cancellations, the next stage after Japão will be at Miami in early May.

McLaren is optimistic about the performance shown in dry conditions of Suzuka. The drivers highlighted the car’s balance in different sectors of the circuit. The team plans to continue the adjustments for the following sessions.

Context of the 2026 season at Japão

The current season presents a balance between the main teams, with Mercedes and Ferrari occupying the top positions in the table. Red Bull seeks to recover ground after a below-expected start. McLaren is trying to turn good training into concrete results in the race.

Free testing allowed teams to collect data on tires and aerodynamic set-up specific to Suzuka. Vários drivers reported challenges with the demanding layout of the Japanese circuit. The session passed without serious security incidents.

Piastri and Norris reinforce confidence in McLaren

Oscar Piastri celebrated the fastest lap as a positive sign for the rest of the weekend. Lando Norris concluded that the team has the potential to fight for front positions. The pair avoided mechanical problems that marked previous races.

McLaren demonstrated clear progress in relation to the initial retirements of the season. Engineers focused on improving traction and high-speed stability. Esses adjustments had an immediate effect in the first training session.

Red Bull analyzes reasons for poor performance

The Austrian team identified several areas that need urgent development after training. Verstappen struggled to find a consistent rhythm throughout the session. The team works to understand the car’s limitations on the Suzuka track.

Laurent Mekies reinforced that the performance deficit requires intensive work at the factory. Red Bull was unable to extract the maximum from the available technical package. The mechanics made several changes between laps to look for improvements.

Ferrari and Mercedes show varying consistency

The Ferrari achieved intermediate times with the Leclerc and Hamilton, but faces internal confidence issues in the car. Hamilton explicitly mentioned the lack of feeling with the current model. The team is looking for adjustments to improve overall performance.

Mercedes, on the other hand, maintained a solid pace with Antonelli and Russell. The young drivers of the German team contributed to the good collective result. The team leads both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.

• Oscar Piastri set the fastest FT1 lap in 1min30s133.
• Lando Norris finished fourth with McLaren.
• Max Verstappen recorded the tenth best time, more than a second behind the lead.
• Mercedes leads the constructors’ championship with 98 points.
• Red Bull occupies fourth place among the constructors with 12 points.

The free practice session in Suzuka provided important data for all teams before qualifying. Teams adjusted settings for the expected weather over the next few days. McLaren came out as one of the main protagonists of the day.

Updates from team Audi on the grid

Audi, as a newcomer to the season, placed Hülkenberg in seventh place during training. The German driver accumulates experience and seeks consistent points with the new team. The team faces internal challenges following recent changes in technical direction.

The other builders completed the session with varying times depending on their setup strategies. The Suzuka circuit required high precision in fast and slow curves. Todas the teams collected information for the elimination sessions.

McLaren leads first free practice in Japão with solid performance from Piastri and Norris. Red Bull registers obvious difficulties and seeks quick solutions for the remainder of the weekend. Grande Prêmio of Japão continues with the second free training session this Friday local time.