Russell leads Mercedes one-two in Suzuka practice

George Russell leads the drivers' championship by four points from Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli George Russell led team-mate Kimi Antonelli to a Mercedes one-two ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris in first practice at the Japanese Grand Prix. Russell pipped Antonelli, who took his maiden win at the last race in China, by just 0. 026 seconds after the two drivers swapped fastest times in the middle of the session.

World champion Norris was 0. 132secs behind Russell in his McLaren. Piastri was 0.

199secs adrift, an encouraging start to the weekend for the Australian and McLaren, who have had a difficult first two grands prix. Apart from the Shanghai sprint, Piastri has not completed a racing lap in 2026, and in China both McLarens retired with separate battery issues before the start. The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were fifth and sixth fastest.

Leclerc was 0. 289secs off the pace, completing his fastest lap after seven laps on the soft tyre following an off at the tricky Spoon Curve double left-hander. He headed Hamilton by 0.