McLaren looked sharp in early sessions at Suzuka, but gusty winds and stoppages kept them from fully showing their hand.
McLaren kicked off the Japanese Grand Prix weekend on a high note, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris leading the way during Friday practice at Suzuka.
Piastri topped the timesheets in the second free practice session, just ahead of teammate Norris, who had set the pace earlier in FP1. The MCL39 clearly has potential around the fast, flowing corners of Suzuka—but it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Windy Conditions and Red Flags Shake Things Up
“It was a tricky day,” Piastri admitted. “Some sections of the track have been resurfaced, others haven’t, and the wind made things unpredictable. You could feel like you’re driving a different car every lap.”
“The red flags made FP2 quite stop-start, so getting into a rhythm was tough. But by the end of the day, I was feeling more comfortable. There’s still a bit of work to do, but overall I’m reasonably happy. FP1 was hard to read; FP2 felt better.”
When asked about potential rivals, Piastri pointed to the Silver Arrows. “Mercedes look quick. They didn’t seem to get much out of the soft tyres, though. It’s hard to judge on a day like this. Still, I’m confident we’ve got solid pace heading into the weekend—but we’ve got to stay sharp.”
Norris Echoes the Positives, But Sees Room to Improve
Norris, who was only a few hundredths behind Piastri in FP2, was equally encouraged.
“It was a solid day,” he said. “We’re in a good place, but the wind made things really tough—especially on a track like this, where you’re always on the edge. A gust at the wrong time can really unsettle the car.”
“Overall, I feel good. We’ve made progress, but there’s still work to do for tomorrow. I’m happy with how Friday went.”
As for who’s most likely to challenge McLaren, Norris also singled out Mercedes.
“I still think we’re near the front,” he said. “George (Russell) was very quick this morning—right up there with us. Mercedes look strong.”
“Red Bull looked a bit off the pace, but they probably didn’t focus much on qualifying runs today. It was a bit of a messy session anyway. If anything, FP1 gave a better picture of the pecking order.”
Looking ahead to Saturday, Norris expects the battle to tighten. “I’m hoping it’s a bit more straightforward, but I’m sure Mercedes—and especially George—will give us a run for our money.”
- Discover More>Japanese GP – FP2: Piastri Leads as Doohan Crashes Hard, Hadjar Impresses in P3
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McLaren Set the Pace Early, But Suzuka Throws a Curve
McLaren Set the Pace Early, But Suzuka Throws a Curve