F1 Japan Free Practice: Verstappen Struggles, Piastri Impresses at Suzuka

Suzuka is supposed to be every driver's mecca, right? 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 started with a serious case of the blues. Friday's F1 Japan free practice session was all about frustration for the reigning world champion. There were some grumbles after the first session, Free Practice 1, but after Free Practice 2, the disappointment was truly palpable.

A Painful Day for Verstappen in the Red Bull

It's not often we see Max shrugging his shoulders like that. But after the second session, that's exactly what it was: a helpless shrug. "We're definitely 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 refused to do what he wanted. While the competition was making gains, Red Bull seemed to be moving backwards. The numbers don't lie: tenth place in Free Practice 2 is a let-down 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 from the data, from how the car is going to handle in Free Practice 3 (scheduled for tomorrow morning), that 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 Guts, McLaren Looks Rock-Solid

While heads were coming together at Red Bull, it was party time on the other side of the garage. Oscar Piastri didn't just set the fastest time in Free Practice 2; he showed he could effortlessly match the pace of the Mercedes drivers, with a smile on his face. The young Australian 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 opposition and showed in the second practice session that McLaren has the right package for this demanding track.

• Verstappen: Tenth in FP2, struggling with balance and grip. The RB21 looks twitchy.
• Piastri: The fastest man on track. Looks completely ready for the rest of the weekend.
• Mercedes: Hamilton and Russell were close, but had to acknowledge the McLaren was just ahead.
• 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 trains not only on the track, but also on stability and core strength. It's a world away from Formula 1 in 2014, when the cars sounded totally different and physical preparation was less specialised.

Let's be honest, though: it's only Friday. It's the first free practice, the second free practice. They're 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 place right now. The question is whether Red Bull can fix the major issue they had today in time for qualifying.

What Can We Expect from FP3 and Qualifying?

Tomorrow morning we have Free Practice 3. Traditionally, that's when the teams show their hand. Qualifying follows, 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. In Suzuka, confidence in the car is everything. If that's not dialled in, you don't stand a chance through the high-speed corners.

So, it's going to be a long night 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.