FP1: Norris tops first Japanese GP practice as Tsunoda debuts for Red Bull

McLaren driver Lando Norris set the pace in the opening Free Practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, leading the way from Mercedes rival George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc – while Yuki Tsunoda made his official debut for Red Bull Racing.

After back-to-back races in Australia and China to kick off the 2025 season, the 20 drivers returned to action amid pleasant weather conditions – and surrounded by Japan’s famous cherry blossom trees – at the iconic Suzuka Circuit on Friday morning.

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Two members of the grid are, of course, in different places this weekend – Liam Lawson being sent back to Racing Bulls via a challenging start to the year, and Tsunoda going the other way in a much-awaited opportunity to represent the senior Red Bull outfit.

Tsunoda made an assured start to life in Red Bull colours – which are white and red for Honda’s home race – by steadily building up speed in the much-talked-about RB21 and lapping just a tenth slower than new team mate Max Verstappen on their early soft tyre runs.

Once every driver had got laps in on Pirelli’s red-marked rubber, it was championship leader Norris who topped the timesheets with a benchmark of 1m 28.549s around a partially resurfaced and updated track, followed closely by Russell and Leclerc.

Norris’ effort, which came slightly later in the session than those around him, and followed a trip onto the grass and gravel exiting the final chicane, kept him in the P1 spot over the aforementioned Mercedes and Ferrari drivers through to the chequered flag.

AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton backed up team mate Leclerc in fourth, from the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Tsunoda, who remained closely matched, while Fernando Alonso put his Aston Martin in an encouraging seventh over Racing Bulls racer Isack Hadjar.

Kimi Antonelli wound up ninth in the sister Mercedes, having survived a visit to the gravel at the Turn 11 hairpin late on, with Williams pair Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon in P10 and P11 respectively – the latter doing the same as Antonelli earlier in the session.

Alpine reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa was next on the timesheets, having taken over Jack Doohan’s car for the opening session of the weekend, giving the Japanese crowd even more to shout about alongside Tsunoda’s Red Bull promotion.

Lawson marked his return to Racing Bulls in P13, followed by the other Alpine and McLaren machines of Pierre Gasly and Oscar Piastri – the Chinese Grand Prix winner not getting as clean a run in as pace-setting team mate Norris.

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Lance Stroll was 16th in his Aston Martin, around half a second away from team mate Alonso, as the Kick Sauber and Haas drivers – Nico Hulkenberg over Ollie Bearman, Esteban Ocon and Gabriel Bortoleto – completed the field.

Drivers and teams will now regroup in the paddock to dig through the data and prepare for Friday’s second Free Practice session, which is due to get under way at 1500 local time – again running for one hour.