As the Formula 1 circus rolled into Suzuka for the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, the final practice session, FP3, proved to be a critical hour of track time. Following a significantly disrupted Friday, where adverse weather conditions rendered FP2 largely ineffective for meaningful data collection, teams were desperate to maximize their running. This intensified the importance of FP3, transforming it into a crucial window for both long-run simulations and the all-important qualifying preparations.
The session unfolded under much warmer conditions than the previous day, a welcome change that allowed the teams to push their machinery closer to its limits. This shift in temperature also meant that any data gathered during the sparse dry running on Friday would need careful re-evaluation. With qualifying just hours away, every lap and every adjustment carried immense weight, setting the stage for what promised to be a thrilling battle for pole position.
Red Bull’s Dominance Continues at Suzuka
Unsurprisingly, the reigning world champions, Red Bull Racing, once again asserted their authority. Championship leader Max Verstappen continued his imperious form, setting the fastest time of 1’29.563 on the soft compound tyres. This blistering lap underscored Red Bull’s formidable pace at the challenging Suzuka International Racing Course, a circuit known for its high-speed corners and technical demands that perfectly suit the characteristics of their RB20 challenger.
Verstappen’s dominance was further highlighted by the fact that his teammate, Sergio Perez, despite securing the second-fastest time, was still a significant 0.269 seconds adrift. While Perez’s performance was strong enough to cement a Red Bull 1-2, it also illustrated the remarkable benchmark set by Verstappen. The gap between the two Red Bulls, though notable, still showcased the team’s overall strength and their comfortable advantage over the rest of the field in these crucial pre-qualifying runs. The consistent speed displayed by both drivers confirmed Red Bull’s status as the team to beat heading into qualifying, with their formidable pace on both single-lap and potential long-run simulations.
Mercedes Shows Promising Pace, Ferrari Struggles to Find Rhythm
The biggest positive surprise of the session came from the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team. After a challenging start to the season, Mercedes appeared to find some genuine pace, emerging as the closest contenders to the Red Bulls. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton secured third and fourth positions respectively, both within half a second of Verstappen’s leading time. Russell, in particular, demonstrated impressive consistency, while Hamilton also showed strong signs of improvement, suggesting that the Silver Arrows might finally be unlocking more potential from their W15 chassis. This performance offered a glimmer of hope for the German outfit, hinting that they could be genuine challengers for the second row of the grid, and perhaps even eye a podium finish if they can maintain this form.
In stark contrast to Mercedes’ encouraging display, Ferrari endured a more challenging FP3. Carlos Sainz Jnr managed to place his SF-24 in seventh, while Charles Leclerc could only secure tenth. Leclerc’s session was particularly frustrating, marred by a significant miscalculation at the very end. The Monegasque driver missed his opportunity to set a crucial flying lap by less than a second, arriving at the start/finish line just after the chequered flag had fallen. His exasperation was palpable over team radio, as he voiced his frustration, questioning the team’s timing and decision-making during his out-lap. “I don’t get it,” Leclerc exclaimed. “What are we doing, to stay in the garage? Oh my God. We are in FP3, we have two laps, let’s be on it. Come on.” This incident underscored Ferrari’s ongoing struggle to consistently extract maximum performance from their package, especially when under pressure, and left them with a considerable amount of work to do before qualifying.
Midfield Dynamics and Track Incidents
The battle in the midfield was as tight and compelling as ever. Fernando Alonso, the veteran two-time world champion, demonstrated the consistent performance of his Aston Martin, securing an impressive fifth place. McLaren’s Lando Norris was sixth, though his session ended with an abandoned final push lap after he ran wide at the challenging Degner 2 corner, costing him a chance at a higher position. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, also showcased solid pace, finishing eighth. Yuki Tsunoda continued to impress on home soil for RB, securing a commendable ninth place, further solidifying his growing reputation.
The session also saw a few minor incidents, highlighting the demanding nature of Suzuka. Kevin Magnussen was an early casualty, momentarily skidding off into the gravel at the hairpin before skillfully recovering his Haas. Later, Daniel Ricciardo experienced a snap of oversteer at the exit of the first corner, sending his RB briefly off-track. However, unlike Logan Sargeant’s more significant crash in FP1, all 20 drivers successfully avoided serious contact with the barriers, completing the hour without any red flags. This was a welcome relief for teams, allowing them to gather vital data without interruption, particularly after Friday’s limited running. McLaren’s Lando Norris, despite his strong showing, completed the fewest laps of any driver with just 14, indicating a potential issue or a focus on specific setup changes during his time in the garage. Conversely, Carlos Sainz logged the most laps, completing 27, demonstrating Ferrari’s efforts to gather as much data as possible.
Session Overview and Outlook for Qualifying
The unique circumstances of the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix weekend, with FP2 being virtually a washout, significantly altered the approach to FP3. Teams were forced to condense their entire Friday programme into Saturday morning, meaning the early phase of FP3 was dedicated to high-fuel long runs that would typically have been completed the day before. As the session progressed, the focus shifted sharply towards qualifying simulations, with drivers bolting on fresh soft tyres to chase ultimate single-lap pace. The warmer track temperatures provided better grip, allowing drivers to push harder and explore the limits of their cars. This intense hour of running has undoubtedly provided teams with a wealth of data, but also highlighted areas where improvements are still needed. The significant performance gaps, particularly at the front, set the stage for a dramatic qualifying session, with Red Bull clearly holding the advantage, but Mercedes appearing to be a revitalized threat. Ferrari, despite their struggles, will be working tirelessly to overcome their FP3 performance and deliver a stronger showing when it truly matters.
With Red Bull once again demonstrating their formidable speed, and Mercedes showing signs of a genuine resurgence, the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix qualifying session promises to be an exhilarating affair. The challenging nature of Suzuka means that precision and confidence will be paramount, and any small error can have significant consequences. All eyes will be on Max Verstappen to see if he can extend his dominance, but the chasing pack, especially Mercedes, will be eager to challenge the reigning champions. The stage is set for a thrilling Saturday at Suzuka, as teams and drivers push to the absolute limit in pursuit of pole position.
2024 Japanese Grand Prix Third Practice Result
| P. | # | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB20 | 1’29.563 | 23 | |
| 2 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB20 | 1’29.832 | 0.269 | 25 |
| 3 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W15 | 1’29.918 | 0.355 | 24 |
| 4 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W15 | 1’30.037 | 0.474 | 21 |
| 5 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | 1’30.082 | 0.519 | 24 |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’30.137 | 0.574 | 14 |
| 7 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-24 | 1’30.171 | 0.608 | 27 |
| 8 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’30.226 | 0.663 | 19 |
| 9 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’30.341 | 0.778 | 21 |
| 10 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-24 | 1’30.383 | 0.820 | 25 |
| 11 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW46 | 1’30.533 | 0.970 | 23 |
| 12 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber-Ferrari | C44 | 1’30.546 | 0.983 | 26 |
| 13 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’30.682 | 1.119 | 24 |
| 14 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A524 | 1’31.022 | 1.459 | 18 |
| 15 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber-Ferrari | C44 | 1’31.067 | 1.504 | 16 |
| 16 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | VF-24 | 1’31.139 | 1.576 | 21 |
| 17 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A524 | 1’31.141 | 1.578 | 19 |
| 18 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | 1’31.342 | 1.779 | 23 |
| 19 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams-Mercedes | FW46 | 1’31.452 | 1.889 | 20 |
| 20 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-24 | 1’31.462 | 1.899 | 22 |
2024 Japanese Grand Prix Combined Practice Results
| P. | # | Driver | Team | FP1 time | FP2 time | FP3 time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | 1’30.056 | 1’29.563 | 41 | ||
| 2 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | 1’30.237 | 1’29.832 | 0.269 | 43 | |
| 3 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1’30.530 | 1’29.918 | 0.355 | 42 | |
| 4 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1’30.543 | 1’35.226 | 1’30.037 | 0.474 | 50 |
| 5 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’30.599 | 1’30.082 | 0.519 | 44 | |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’31.240 | No time | 1’30.137 | 0.574 | 39 |
| 7 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | 1’30.269 | No time | 1’30.171 | 0.608 | 50 |
| 8 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’31.165 | 1’34.725 | 1’30.226 | 0.663 | 49 |
| 9 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB-Honda RBPT | 1’31.230 | 1’40.946 | 1’30.341 | 0.778 | 49 |
| 10 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1’30.558 | 1’38.760 | 1’30.383 | 0.820 | 47 |
| 11 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | 1’31.943 | No time | 1’30.533 | 0.970 | 46 |
| 12 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’32.054 | No time | 1’30.546 | 0.983 | 50 |
| 13 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB-Honda RBPT | 1’41.913 | 1’30.682 | 1.119 | 33 | |
| 14 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | 1’31.935 | No time | 1’31.022 | 1.459 | 40 |
| 15 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’32.638 | No time | 1’31.067 | 1.504 | 41 |
| 16 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | 1’31.958 | No time | 1’31.139 | 1.576 | 45 |
| 17 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | 1’32.277 | 1’31.141 | 1.578 | 42 | |
| 18 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’32.055 | 1’31.342 | 1.779 | 40 | |
| 19 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams-Mercedes | 1’33.204 | 1’31.452 | 1.889 | 30 | |
| 20 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | 1’32.803 | No time | 1’31.462 | 1.899 | 47 |
| 21 | 40 | Ayumu Iwasa | RB-Honda RBPT | 1’32.103 | 2.540 | 22 |
2024 Japanese Grand Prix
- “Am I in a race here or what?”: How Ferrari aced their Suzuka strategies
- Suzuka showed Mercedes “have a more stable platform” now
- Ferrari’s strategy gains in 2024 are “purely down to the car” – Sainz
- Tsunoda ‘at Verstappen and Alonso’s level’ with Suzuka performance – Marko
- Japan was first race where Red Bull’s winning margin was bigger than last year
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