The Suzuka International Racing Course set the stage for a thrilling climax to the practice sessions ahead of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix. In a display of formidable pace, Andrea Kimi Antonelli emerged as the fastest driver in the crucial final practice session, firmly planting his Mercedes W17 at the top of the timings. His performance was not just impressive; it was dominant, as Mercedes drivers left their rivals significantly behind, signaling their strong intent for qualifying and the main race.
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Antonelli, fresh off his victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, demonstrated exceptional control and speed, shaving a remarkable seven-tenths of a second off yesterday’s best time, which had been set by Oscar Piastri. The young Italian’s blistering lap of 1’29.362 sent a clear message to the paddock. Adding to Mercedes’ commanding presence, George Russell secured the second-fastest time, completing a dominant one-two for the Silver Arrows. Their W17 package appeared to be perfectly dialled in for the demanding Suzuka circuit, renowned for its high-speed corners and technical complexity, showcasing a significant step forward in performance.
The gap to the rest of the field was substantial, with only one driver from a rival team managing to get within a second of the Mercedes duo. That distinction fell to Charles Leclerc, who piloted his Ferrari SF-26 to a 1’29.616, securing third place at the session’s close. Despite his best efforts, Leclerc found himself 0.867 seconds adrift of Antonelli, highlighting the remarkable pace displayed by Mercedes. Piastri, who had impressed on Friday, couldn’t replicate his earlier form, finishing over two-tenths of a second slower than his own best time from the previous day, indicating the increased intensity and evolving track conditions.
Meanwhile, the McLaren garage continued to be plagued by technical setbacks, particularly affecting Lando Norris. The British driver’s weekend has been a challenging one, marked by a frustrating series of mechanical issues that have severely curtailed his valuable track time. Having already failed to start the Chinese Grand Prix due to a battery problem, and experiencing further faults during Friday’s second practice session, Norris found himself once again confined to the garage at the start of the final hour of running in FP3. This time, the culprit was an issue with his Energy Recovery System (ERS), a critical component for modern Formula 1 cars’ performance. The repeated technical failures are a significant concern for McLaren, especially as they strive to maintain their competitive edge in the constructors’ championship.
After a diligent effort by the McLaren mechanics to remedy the ERS fault, the former world champion eventually joined the track, making the most of his limited running. Despite the significant disruption, Norris managed to post the sixth-fastest time, demonstrating his inherent talent and the underlying potential of the MCL40. His late surge saw him position himself just behind Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, a testament to his ability to extract performance even under adverse circumstances. However, the missed track time could prove costly for Norris and McLaren as they fine-tune their setup for qualifying and the race.
The Audi drivers continued to impress, building on the promising potential they had showcased during Friday’s sessions. Both Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto ended FP3 inside the top 10, underscoring the consistent performance and development of their R26 challenger. They effectively sandwiched the Red Bull of reigning champion Max Verstappen, who finished eighth, indicating Audi’s growing strength in the midfield battle. Further down the order, the competition for a spot in Q3 appeared incredibly tight, with the margins separating the drivers being minuscule. Isack Hadjar in the other RB22 was just two thousandths of a second slower than Pierre Gasly’s 10th-placed Alpine, and only three thousandths ahead of Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls. This razor-thin difference suggests that qualifying will be a fiercely contested affair, with every tenth, and indeed every thousandth, of a second counting.
The demanding Suzuka circuit, with its unique layout and high-speed sections, inevitably led to some dramatic moments and close calls during the session. Several near-misses occurred in the vicinity of the iconic 130R corner, a notoriously fast left-hander. Drivers were observed significantly slowing down as their power units ran out of electrical energy, creating challenging speed differentials. One such incident led to Oscar Piastri receiving an official warning from the stewards for impeding Nico Hulkenberg on the approach to 130R. Piastri had misjudged the substantial 75kph speed difference between the two cars, highlighting the fine margins and communication challenges inherent in Formula 1 practice.
Rookie Oliver Bearman, behind the wheel of his Haas VF-26, found himself at the center of several on-track frustrations. He impeded Valtteri Bottas twice on consecutive laps as they approached the chicane, drawing the ire of the Cadillac driver. Later in the session, Bearman also frustrated Liam Lawson by getting in his way in the middle of Spoon, another challenging corner at Suzuka. Despite these incidents, Bearman also provided the most dramatic moment of the session at the very same Spoon corner. His VF-26 snapped sideways violently at the exit, losing control and coming perilously close to the barriers. In a remarkable display of car control, Bearman managed to gather it up and keep it out of the wall, prompting George Russell, who was following closely behind, to commend his “good save.” Such moments underscore the immense skill required to tame these powerful machines on the knife-edge of performance.
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2026 Japanese Grand Prix third practice result
| P. | # | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | W17 | 1’29.362 | 18 | |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W17 | 1’29.616 | 0.254 | 18 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-26 | 1’30.229 | 0.867 | 20 |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL40 | 1’30.364 | 1.002 | 19 |
| 5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | SF-26 | 1’30.383 | 1.021 | 23 |
| 6 | 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL40 | 1’30.600 | 1.238 | 13 |
| 7 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | R26 | 1’30.658 | 1.296 | 21 |
| 8 | 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Red Bull-Ford | RB22 | 1’30.910 | 1.548 | 22 |
| 9 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | R26 | 1’31.000 | 1.638 | 21 |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Mercedes | A526 | 1’31.082 | 1.720 | 20 |
| 11 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull-Red Bull-Ford | RB22 | 1’31.094 | 1.732 | 21 |
| 12 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls-Red Bull-Ford | 03 | 1’31.097 | 1.735 | 21 |
| 13 | 41 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls-Red Bull-Ford | 03 | 1’31.288 | 1.926 | 17 |
| 14 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas-Ferrari | VF-26 | 1’31.326 | 1.964 | 22 |
| 15 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas-Ferrari | VF-26 | 1’31.558 | 2.196 | 18 |
| 16 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW48 | 1’31.733 | 2.371 | 20 |
| 17 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine-Mercedes | A526 | 1’31.759 | 2.397 | 25 |
| 18 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Williams-Mercedes | FW48 | 1’31.829 | 2.467 | 26 |
| 19 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac-Ferrari | MAC-26 | 1’32.503 | 3.141 | 20 |
| 20 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac-Ferrari | MAC-26 | 1’32.540 | 3.178 | 18 |
| 21 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Honda | AMR26 | 1’33.485 | 4.123 | 19 |
| 22 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Honda | AMR26 | 1’33.529 | 4.167 | 14 |
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2026 Japanese Grand Prix combined practice times
Reviewing the combined practice times across all three sessions provides a comprehensive overview of each team’s and driver’s performance trends and overall pace throughout the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s dominant FP3 performance cemented his position at the very top of the combined standings, underscoring Mercedes’ significant step forward. His best time of 1’29.362 from FP3 was the fastest of the entire weekend’s practice sessions, a testament to the team’s ability to extract peak performance when it mattered most. George Russell’s consistent pace, culminating in a 1’29.616, ensured a Mercedes 1-2 in the overall practice hierarchy, demonstrating their formidable strength.
Oscar Piastri, despite being dislodged from the top spot in FP3, still holds the third-fastest combined time thanks to his strong 1’30.133 from FP2. This indicates that McLaren, when free of mechanical issues, possess the raw speed to challenge at the front, though consistency over a full weekend remains key. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, both in their Ferraris, secured fourth and fifth places respectively in the combined timings. While their pace was respectable, particularly Leclerc’s best from FP3, they will be looking to close the gap to Mercedes in qualifying. Lando Norris’s combined time of 1’30.600, despite his limited running, is a strong indicator of his potential, leaving fans to wonder what he could achieve with a trouble-free session.
The midfield battle, as suggested by FP3, is incredibly tight. Nico Hulkenberg’s strong performance, yielding a best of 1’30.658, placed him seventh overall, showcasing Audi’s genuine threat. Max Verstappen, perhaps surprisingly for some, finds himself in eighth on the combined list, with his best of 1’30.910 suggesting that Red Bull may still be searching for optimal balance or holding back some pace. The sheer closeness of times from eighth down to fifteenth, often separated by mere hundredths or thousandths of a second, illustrates the intense competition throughout the grid. Drivers like Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad, Esteban Ocon, Alexander Albon, and Oliver Bearman are all within a narrow window, setting the stage for a thrilling and unpredictable qualifying session where track position will be paramount. The wide array of best times coming from different sessions (FP1, FP2, or FP3) for various drivers further highlights the dynamic nature of the Suzuka track and the teams’ evolving setups. This promises an exciting qualifying showdown and a captivating 2026 Japanese Grand Prix.
| P. | # | Driver | Team | FP1 time | FP2 time | FP3 time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1’31.692 | 1’30.225 | 1’29.362 | 44 | |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1’31.666 | 1’30.338 | 1’29.616 | 0.254 | 45 |
| 3 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’31.865 | 1’30.133 | 1’30.364 | 0.771 | 42 |
| 4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1’31.955 | 1’30.846 | 1’30.229 | 0.867 | 45 |
| 5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1’32.040 | 1’30.980 | 1’30.383 | 1.021 | 46 |
| 6 | 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’31.798 | 1’30.649 | 1’30.600 | 1.238 | 33 |
| 7 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | 1’32.798 | 1’31.441 | 1’30.658 | 1.296 | 47 |
| 8 | 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Red Bull-Ford | 1’32.457 | 1’31.509 | 1’30.910 | 1.548 | 49 |
| 9 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1’32.759 | 1’31.933 | 1’31.000 | 1.638 | 48 |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Mercedes | 1’32.978 | 1’31.734 | 1’31.082 | 1.720 | 45 |
| 11 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull-Red Bull-Ford | 1’32.803 | 1’31.759 | 1’31.094 | 1.732 | 48 |
| 12 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls-Red Bull-Ford | 1’32.529 | 1’31.590 | 1’31.097 | 1.735 | 48 |
| 13 | 41 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls-Red Bull-Ford | 1’32.665 | No time | 1’31.288 | 1.926 | 46 |
| 14 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas-Ferrari | 1’32.601 | 1’31.532 | 1’31.326 | 1.964 | 45 |
| 15 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | 1’33.697 | 1’31.496 | 1’31.733 | 2.134 | 42 |
| 16 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas-Ferrari | 1’32.900 | 1’31.498 | 1’31.558 | 2.136 | 45 |
| 17 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Williams-Mercedes | 1’33.383 | 1’31.608 | 1’31.829 | 2.246 | 52 |
| 18 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine-Mercedes | 1’33.361 | 1’32.438 | 1’31.759 | 2.397 | 49 |
| 19 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac-Ferrari | 1’34.490 | 1’32.615 | 1’32.503 | 3.141 | 44 |
| 20 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac-Ferrari | 1’34.221 | 1’33.689 | 1’32.540 | 3.178 | 36 |
| 21 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Honda | 1’35.294 | 1’33.951 | 1’33.485 | 4.123 | 41 |
| 22 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Honda | 1’33.596 | 1’33.529 | 4.167 | 14 | |
| 23 | 34 | Jak Crawford | Aston Martin-Honda | 1’36.362 | 7.000 | 11 |
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2026 Japanese Grand Prix Insights & Related Articles
The practice sessions for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka have set the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating weekend of Formula 1 action. With Mercedes demonstrating a clear performance advantage, and intense battles unfolding across the midfield, fans can anticipate high-stakes qualifying and a fiercely contested race. The unique demands of the Suzuka circuit, from its iconic Esses to the challenging 130R, continue to push drivers and machines to their limits, ensuring memorable moments both on and off the track. As teams finalize their strategies and drivers prepare to extract every ounce of performance, the pressure mounts for all contenders seeking success in Japan.
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