F1 Japan Free Practice: Verstappen struggles, Piastri impresses at Suzuka
Suzuka is every driver’s paradise, isn’t it? The esses, the high-speed 130R – it’s one of the most legendary circuits on the calendar. But for Max Verstappen, the Japanese Grand Prix got off to a rough start. Friday’s F1 Japan free practice was all about frustration for the reigning world champion. There were already a few grumbles after the first session, Free Practice 1, but after Free Practice 2, the disappointment really set in.
A painful day for Verstappen in the Red Bull
It’s not often we see Max shrug his shoulders like that. But after the second session, that’s exactly what happened: a helpless shrug. “We’re not going to find the solution if we keep going like this,” came the word from the paddock. It was a day where the RB21 simply wouldn’t do what he wanted. While the competition made gains, Red Bull seemed to be going backwards. The numbers don’t lie: a tenth-place finish in Free Practice 2 is a letdown by his standards. For a driver used to dominating in Japan, it’s a strange sight.
I get why his head’s down. You can see it in the data, in the way the car will handle Free Practice 3 (scheduled for tomorrow morning): it’s going to be a race against the clock, not just for the fastest lap time, but also to get the confidence back in the car.
Piastri shows guts, McLaren looks rock solid
While heads were being put together at Red Bull, it was party time in the other garage. Oscar Piastri didn’t just set the fastest time in Free Practice 2; he also showed he could easily handle the pace of the Mercedes drivers with a smile on his face. The young Aussie drove as if he’d been racing here for years, with a maturity you rarely see. His teammate Lando Norris was there too, but Piastri was the standout. He was simply quicker than the competition and showed in the second practice session that McLaren has the right package for this demanding circuit.
- Verstappen: Tenth in FP2, struggling with balance and grip. The RB21 looks twitchy.
- Piastri: Fastest man on track. Looks all set for the rest of the weekend.
- Mercedes: Hamilton and Russell were close, but had to concede the McLaren was the better car.
- BOSU Balance Trainer Pro: Funny how you see those balance trainers everywhere in the paddock these days. From the physio tables to the hospitality units; the modern Formula 1 driver doesn’t just train on the track, but also on stability and core strength. It’s a world away from Formula 1 in 2014, when the cars sounded completely different and physical preparation wasn’t as specialised.
We’ve got to be honest too: it’s only Friday. It’s the first free practice, the second free practice. These are testing sessions. But if you look at the long runs, the times on the soft tyre, and the consistency, you see that Piastri and McLaren are simply in a better position right now. The question is whether Red Bull can fix the big mistake they made today before qualifying.
What can we expect from FP3 and qualifying?
Tomorrow morning is Free Practice 3. That’s traditionally when the teams show their hand. After that comes qualifying, where it really counts. Verstappen will need to find a few tenths, but my gut feeling says it’ll be tough to completely close the gap to the front. At Suzuka, confidence in the car is everything. If that’s not right, you don’t stand a chance in the high-speed corners.
So, it’s set to be a late night of sweating it out in the Red Bull motorhome. It’s not the first time they’ve hit a rough patch, but the competition is relentless this year. The Japanese Grand Prix is known for its unpredictability, and if the early signs from F1 Japan free practice are anything to go by, we’re in for a weekend where we finally get a proper fight for pole position. I can’t wait.