F1 Results Today: McLaren bounce back at Japanese GP as Mercedes stay on top

Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, McLaren, China, 2026 — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

F1 Results Today: McLaren bounce back at Japanese GP as Mercedes stay on top

All the times from Japanese Grand Prix practice

Chris Deeley

Friday 27 March 2026 04:57

Mercedes look to be the class of the F1 field once again early on at the Japanese Grand Prix.

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli topped the timing boards in FP1 at Suzuka, with the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri bouncing back early from a nightmare Chinese Grand Prix to finish the session as best of the rest.

The Ferraris slotted in behind the reigning constructors' champions, with Max Verstappen once again comfortably off the pace in seventh.

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The session proceeded much as expected for most teams and drivers, with just a couple of small hiccups – Alex Albon gently tagging a barrier, and Liam Lawson getting a bit squirrely – of note.

That was until Albon went around in the dying minutes of the session, having gone straight into the side of Sergio Perez's Cadillac at the final chicane, the Mexican driver having not seen the Williams on his inside.

Japanese Grand Prix FP1 times

Japanese Grand Prix Practice Results
Position	Driver	Team	Time
1	George Russell	Mercedes	1:31.666
2	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+0.026s
3	Lando Norris	McLaren	+0.132s
4	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+0.199s
5	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+0.289s
6	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+0.374s
7	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	+0.791s
8	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+0.863s
9	Esteban Ocon	Haas	+0.935s
10	Arvid Lindblad	Racing Bulls	+0.999s
11	Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	+1.093s
12	Nico Hulkenberg	Audi	+1.132s
13	Isack Hadjar	Red Bull	+1.137s
14	Oliver Bearman	Haas	+1.234s
15	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+1.312s
16	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	+1.695s
17	Carlos Sainz	Williams	+1.717s
18	Alex Albon	Williams	+2.031s
19	Sergio Perez	Cadillac	+2.555s
20	Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac	+2.824s
21	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+3.628s
22	Jak Crawford	Aston Martin	+4.696s