World champions McLaren outpaced early 2026 championship leaders Mercedes as Oscar Piastri topped the second Friday practice timesheet for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Having been off the pace in the first two race weekends of F1’s new era, and failing to take the race start with either car last time out in China, McLaren looked a far more competitive proposition throughout the opening day’s practice running at Suzuka.
After running Mercedes close in the day’s first practice session, the reigning two-time constructors’ champions moved ahead in the second hour of running.
Piastri set the pace on a 1:30.133 to finish 0.092s quicker than Kimi Antonelli and 0.205s faster than George Russell, the world championship leader who had topped first practice.
“McLaren have made a step forward,” said Sky Sports F1’s Bernie Collins. “They look much closer to Mercedes.”
Lando Norris was fourth and half a second back in the other McLaren, although he missed almost all of the first half of the session due to a hydraulic leak on his car. The world champion had two off-track moments, first at Spoon and then at the chicane, during his 16 laps on track.
But Norris’ compromised session was still enough to see him also finish ahead of the Ferraris, Mercedes’ closest challenger in the opening two race weekends.
The Scuderia’s drivers finished over 0.7s off the pace on day one here, with Charles Leclerc fifth and Lewis Hamilton sixth.
Hamilton was only 0.134s slower than Leclerc on the short soft-tyre runs but said over team radio at the end of the later race simulations: “I am very slow because I have no confidence in the car.”
But there were again seemingly far deeper pace problems for Red Bull, the winners of the last four Japanese GPs with Max Verstappen.
After finishing 0.7s off the pace in the first session, Red Bull’s deficit widened to almost 1.4 in the second with Verstappen 10th and Isack Hadjar 15th. The RB22 has been upgraded this weekend but both drivers appeared to be struggling for grip around the acrobatic layout.
As in China, Red Bull were enveloped by the midfield with Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg finishing seventh fastest, Williams’ Alex Albon eighth and Haas’ Oliver Bearman ninth.
After finishing 10th fastest on his Suzuka debut in the first session, Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad was restricted to just a single lap in the second due to a gearshift issue. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto completed only 10 laps due to an issue on his car.
Are McLaren back in business?
Two weeks on from the blow of seeing neither of their cars able to take the race start in Shanghai due to technical issues with their Mercedes power unit, McLaren arrived in Japan aiming to kick-start their world title defences.
And, despite not bringing any aerodynamic updates to their car – unlike Red Bull and Ferrari – Piastri particularly looked more confident tackling Suzuka’s sweeps from the off.
“I’m encouraged by what we have seen from McLaren,” said Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok.
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Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and George Russell reflect on Friday practice at the Japanese Grand Prix.
“I’m sure Lando’s session was compromised by the hydraulics issue earlier on.
“Let’s see when we get to FP3 and Qualifying. Lewis Hamilton said in China that he knows Mercedes turn it up a notch in Q2 and Q3.”
Mercedes’ pace in the session’s later race simulations also pointed more clearly to an expected edge over McLaren and the rest of the field, although the single-lap speed of their papaya rivals had nonetheless caught their eye.
“McLaren were pretty fast,” admitted Russell.
“A little bit of a surprise, to be honest. There are still some improvements we need to do, so some work to do overnight.”
Sky Sports F1’s Japanese GP schedule
Saturday March 28
2.15am: Japanese GP Practice Three (session starts at 2.30am)*
5am: Japanese GP Qualifying build-up*
6am: JAPANESE GP QUALIFYING*
8am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
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A look back at the wildest moments caught on the onboard camera at the Japanese Grand Prix
Sunday March 29
4.30am: Japanese GP build-up – Grand Prix Sunday*
6am: THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX*
8am: Japanese GP reaction – Chequered Flag*
9am: Ted’s Notebook*
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 heads to the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
