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 |
