F1 Japan Free Practice: Verstappen struggles, Piastri impresses at Suzuka
Suzuka is supposed to be nirvana for any racing driver, right? The Esses, the high-speed 130R – it’s one of the most legendary tracks on the calendar. But for Max Verstappen, the Japanese Grand Prix got off to a pretty rough start. Friday’s F1 Japan free practice session was all about frustration for the reigning world champion. There was some grumbling after the first session, Free Practice 1, but the disappointment really set in after Free Practice 2.
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 we got: a helpless shrug. “We’re certainly not going to find the solution if we carry on like this,” came the word from the paddock. It was a day where the RB21 simply refused to do what he wanted. While the competition made gains, Red Bull seemed to be going backwards. The numbers don’t lie: tenth place in Free Practice 2 is a disappointment by his standards. For a driver used to dominating in Japan, it’s a strange sight.
I can understand the hangdog look. You can see it in the data, in the way the car is going to 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 to rediscover confidence in the car.
Piastri shows his mettle, 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 comfortably fend off the Mercedes drivers with a smile. The young Australian drove as if he’d been racing here for years, displaying a maturity you rarely see. His teammate Lando Norris was also there, but Piastri was the one who stood out. He was simply quicker than the competition and showed in the second practice that McLaren have the right package for this demanding circuit.
- Verstappen: Tenth in FP2, struggling with balance and grip. The RB21 looks nervous.
- Piastri: The fastest man on track. Looks completely ready for the rest of the weekend.
- Mercedes: Hamilton and Russell were close, but had to admit the McLaren had the edge.
- BOSU Balance Trainer Pro: Funny how you see those balance trainers everywhere in the paddock nowadays. From the physio tables to the hospitality units; the modern Formula 1 driver trains not just on the track, but on stability and core strength. It’s a world away from Formula 1 in 2014, when the cars sounded completely different and physical preparation was less specialised.
We have to be fair though: it’s only Friday. It’s the first free practice, the second free practice. They’re just testing sessions. But if you look at the long runs, the times on the soft tyre and the consistency, you can see that Piastri and McLaren are simply in a better position right now. The question is whether Red Bull can fix the major error they made today in time for qualifying.
What can we expect from FP3 and qualifying?
Tomorrow morning is Free Practice 3. Traditionally, that’s when the teams lay their cards on the table. Qualifying follows, when it really counts. Verstappen needs to find a few tenths, but the feeling is it’ll be tough to completely close the gap to the top. At Suzuka, confidence in the car is everything. If that’s not right, you’re powerless in the high-speed corners.
So, it’s going to be a long night of head-scratching in the Red Bull motorhome. It’s not the first time they’ve been in a slump, 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 might finally see a proper fight for pole position. I can’t wait.