{"id":563571,"date":"2026-03-27T04:20:56","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T04:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/563571\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T04:20:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T04:20:56","slug":"f1-japanese-gp-george-russell-leads-kimi-antonelli-by-0-026s-in-fp1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/563571\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 Japanese GP: George Russell leads Kimi Antonelli by 0.026s in FP1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Championship leader George Russell<\/a> has topped Formula 1’s first free practice session at Suzuka’s Japanese Grand Prix, pipping Mercedes<\/a> team-mate Kimi Antonelli by a tiny margin.<\/p>\n

With Russell and Antonelli having divided the first two grands prix wins between themselves, Mercedes’ early-season dominance showing little signs of slowing down at the third event of the 2026 era.<\/p>\n

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Russell led the early running at F1’s iconic Suzuka circuit on hard tyres (1m32.429s), initially followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri<\/a> and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc<\/a>. And when the frontrunners switched to Pirelli’s softest compound Russell and Antonelli further cemented their spot at the top of the order.<\/p>\n

Around 25 minutes into the session, Russell first improved to a 1m31.755s ahead of Antonelli’s 1m32.032s. The Italian, F1’s second-youngest race winner courtesy of his Shanghai exploits a fortnight ago, then sped to a 1m31.692s to lead at the halfway mark.<\/p>\n

After going wide at Spoon, Russell swiftly regained the lead on his following lap with a 1m31.666s effort on softs, beating Antonelli by just 0.026s with what would turn out to be the fastest time of the morning.<\/p>\n

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World champion Lando Norris<\/a> had a slower start to practice, having a rake fitted to his car to conduct some aerodynamic testing. But Norris synced up with his peers later on to take third, just 0.132s in arrears.<\/p>\n

Piastri also had a strong showing for McLaren<\/a>, getting to within 0.199s of Russell as the Woking squad aims to bounce back from a double non-start in China due to two separate battery issues.<\/p>\n

Leclerc and fellow Ferrari<\/a> driver Lewis Hamilton<\/a> conceded around three tenths to Mercedes as they occupied fifth and sixth respectively, comfortably ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Lawson was a strong eighth for Racing Bulls<\/a> in its one-off white and cherry red Japanese livery, with Haas’ Esteban Ocon<\/a> and Lawson’s rookie team-mate Arvid Lindblad<\/a> rounding out the top 10.<\/p>\n

Alexander Albon, Williams\"Alexander<\/p>\n

Alexander Albon, Williams<\/p>\n

The session occurred without major incidents, although there was a scare at struggling Williams<\/a> when Alex Albon<\/a> went off at Degner while trying to catch a snap of oversteer. Albon careened through the gravel and couldn’t avoid a hefty hit with the barriers with his left-rear corner as he sampled the team’s tweaked suspension.<\/p>\n

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Albon’s car appeared to be fine to return to the session later on, but the Anglo-Thai driver was then involved in contact with Cadillac’s Sergio Perez<\/a> at the chicane, with Albon carving up his front wing against the side of the Mexican driver’s car following what appeared to be a miscommunication. Perez had already drawn the ire of Russell earlier on for impeding the Mercedes driver.<\/p>\n

Speaking of troubled teams, at Aston Martin reserve driver Jak Crawford took over Fernando Alonso’s car for his first rookie FP1 outing of the year, the American driver completing just 11 laps with the Honda-powered car as he propped up the timesheet. Team-mate Lance Stroll<\/a> was up ahead in 21st, 3.6 seconds off the pace as Aston Martin and Honda attempted to balance chasing performance with managing significant reliability concerns with their power unit package.<\/p>\n

Read Also:<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

How Honda’s quest for F1 reliability is going amid Aston Martin struggles <\/a><\/p>\n

Japanese Grand Prix – FP1 resultsPhotos from Japanese GP – FridayGeorge Russell, Mercedes\"George<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes<\/p>\n

Andy Hone\/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team\"Gabriel<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team<\/p>\n

Kym Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team\"Gabriel<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team<\/p>\n

Kym Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes\"George<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes<\/p>\n

Jayce Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls\"Liam<\/p>\n

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls<\/p>\n

Andy Hone\/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Fans line up near closed shops as they wait for a bus to the race track.\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans line up near closed shops as they wait for a bus to the race track.<\/p>\n

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Jacques Villeneuve arrives in the paddock.\"Jacques<\/p>\n

Jacques Villeneuve arrives in the paddock.<\/p>\n

Clive Mason \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Artur Widak \/ NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Artur Widak \/ NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Paul Aron before first practice.\"Paul<\/p>\n

Paul Aron before first practice.<\/p>\n

Jakub Porzycki \/ NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Paul Aron before first practice.\"Paul<\/p>\n

Paul Aron before first practice.<\/p>\n

Jakub Porzycki \/ NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Fans line up near closed shops as they wait for a bus to the race track.\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans line up near closed shops as they wait for a bus to the race track.<\/p>\n

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team\"Franco<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team<\/p>\n

Clive Mason \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team\"Franco<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team<\/p>\n

Clive Mason \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

James Vowles, Williams\"James<\/p>\n

James Vowles, Williams<\/p>\n

Sam Bagnall \/ Sutton Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing\"Fernando<\/p>\n

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls\"Liam<\/p>\n

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls<\/p>\n

Simon Galloway \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Frederik Vesti, Mercedes, walks in the paddock with his bicycle.\"Frederik<\/p>\n

Frederik Vesti, Mercedes, walks in the paddock with his bicycle.<\/p>\n

Kym Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Alpine Technical Detail\"Alpine<\/p>\n

Alpine Technical Detail<\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing\"Max<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n

Jayce Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing\"Max<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n

Jayce Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

A huge crowd of fans gathered at the stage.\"A<\/p>\n

A huge crowd of fans gathered at the stage.<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Ferrari Technical Detail\"Ferrari<\/p>\n

Ferrari Technical Detail<\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

Fans line up near closed shops as they wait for a bus to the race track.\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans line up near closed shops as they wait for a bus to the race track.<\/p>\n

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Fans line up near closed shops as they wait for a bus to the race track.\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans line up near closed shops as they wait for a bus to the race track.<\/p>\n

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Team, arrives in the paddock.\"Jak<\/p>\n

Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Team, arrives in the paddock.<\/p>\n

Clive Mason \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Team, arrives in the paddock.\"Jak<\/p>\n

Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Team, arrives in the paddock.<\/p>\n

Clive Mason \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Aston Martin Technical Detail\"Aston<\/p>\n

Aston Martin Technical Detail<\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls\"Liam<\/p>\n

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls<\/p>\n

Clive Mason \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari\"Charles<\/p>\n

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Jayce Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari\"Charles<\/p>\n

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Jayce Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Haas Technical Detail\"Haas<\/p>\n

Haas Technical Detail<\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes\"George<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes<\/p>\n

Jayce Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes\"George<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes<\/p>\n

Jayce Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes\"Andrea<\/p>\n

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team\"Oliver<\/p>\n

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team<\/p>\n

Simon Galloway \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team\"Oliver<\/p>\n

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team<\/p>\n

Simon Galloway \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

A fan of Yuki Tsunoda at the stage.\"A<\/p>\n

A fan of Yuki Tsunoda at the stage.<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

A fan of Yuki Tsunoda at the stage.\"A<\/p>\n

A fan of Yuki Tsunoda at the stage.<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Redbull Technical Detail\"Redbull<\/p>\n

Redbull Technical Detail<\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing\"Isack<\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n

Andy Hone\/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren\"Oscar<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren<\/p>\n

Sam Bloxham \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes\"George<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes<\/p>\n

Sam Bagnall \/ Sutton Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lando Norris, McLaren\"Lando<\/p>\n

Lando Norris, McLaren<\/p>\n

Sam Bloxham \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls\"Liam<\/p>\n

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls<\/p>\n

Andy Hone\/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing\"Isack<\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n

Lars Baron \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing\"Max<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n

Alastair Staley \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Championship leader George Russell has topped Formula 1’s first free practice session at Suzuka’s Japanese Grand Prix, pipping…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":563572,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[441],"tags":[585,94670,3016,49,48,3025,3021,578,930,576,577,3024,3484,7935,14847,25251,591,932,3027,3030,592,3015,1882,2190,82],"class_list":["post-563571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-formula-1","tag-aston-martin","tag-aston-martin-f1-team","tag-aston-martin-racing","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-charles-leclerc","tag-esteban-ocon","tag-f1","tag-ferrari","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-george-russell","tag-getty-images","tag-haas","tag-japanese-grand-prix","tag-kimi-antonelli","tag-lando-norris","tag-lewis-hamilton","tag-liam-lawson","tag-oliver-bearman","tag-oscar-piastri","tag-racing-bulls","tag-red-bull","tag-red-bull-racing","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563571","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=563571"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563571\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/563572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=563571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=563571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=563571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}