Suzuka, April 4, 2025 – by GP Thread
The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix weekend kicked off under clear skies at Suzuka with a strong showing from McLaren and Mercedes in Free Practice 1. Lando Norris set the early pace, topping the timesheets with a 1:28.549, comfortably ahead of the competition.
Mercedes’ George Russell followed closely in P2, just 0.163s off Norris’ time, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc slotted into third. Lewis Hamilton, in his new red overalls, posted a solid fourth fastest time, continuing his adaptation to the Ferrari.
Red Bull had a relatively quiet session with Max Verstappen in fifth. All eyes were also on Yuki Tsunoda, making his debut for the main Red Bull team on home soil. The Japanese driver impressed with a P6 finish, outpacing several more experienced drivers and delivering a boost to the local crowd.
The session ran largely without incident, allowing teams to gather essential data on the soft and medium compounds ahead of what promises to be a competitive qualifying day.