F1 Japan Free Practice: Verstappen struggles, Piastri impresses in Suzuka
Suzuka is supposed to be a driver’s paradise, right? The esses, the high-speed 130R—it’s one of the most legendary circuits on the calendar. But for Max Verstappen, the Japanese GP got off to a rude awakening. Friday’s F1 Japan free practice sessions were all about frustration for the reigning world champion. There were already some murmurs after the first session, Free Practice 1, but the disappointment truly hit home after Free Practice 2.
A tough day at the office 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 wouldn’t do what he wanted. While the competition was making strides, 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, this is a strange sight.
You can understand why his head’s down. You can see it in the data, in how the car will handle going into Free Practice 3 (scheduled for tomorrow morning): it’s going to be a race against time, not just for the fastest lap, but to regain confidence in the car.
Piastri shows his mettle, McLaren looks rock solid
While heads were coming together at Red Bull, it was party time at the other end of the garage. Oscar Piastri didn’t just set the fastest time in Free Practice 2; he also showed he could effortlessly fend off the Mercedes drivers with a smile. The young Australian drove like he’d been racing here for years, showing a maturity you rarely see. His teammate Lando Norris was there too, but Piastri was the standout. He was simply faster than the competition and showed in the second practice 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 ready to go for the rest of the weekend.
- Mercedes: Hamilton and Russell were close, but had to concede that the McLaren was the stronger 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 trains not just 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 prep was less specialised.
Let’s be fair, though: it’s only Friday. It’s the first free practice, the second free practice. These are 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 recover from the major misstep they made today before qualifying.
What to expect from FP3 and qualifying?
Tomorrow morning is Free Practice 3. Traditionally, that’s when teams show their true hand. Then it’s on to qualifying, where it really counts. Verstappen will need to find a few tenths, but the feeling is that it’ll be tough to fully close the gap to the top. In Suzuka, confidence in the car is everything. If that’s not sorted, you stand no chance in the fast corners.
So, it’s going to be a long night of hard work in the Red Bull motorhome. It’s not the first time they’ve hit a rough patch, but the competition this year is relentless. The Japanese GP 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.