JAPAN: Max Verstappen showcased Red Bull’s resurgence at the Japanese Grand Prix, securing a practice hat-trick with a blistering 1:30.267 lap in FP3 on Saturday, setting a formidable pace ahead of the crucial qualifying session.
In a slow start to the day’s action, Carlos Sainz broke the silence by venturing out after the first five minutes. Charles Leclerc followed suit, edging his teammate with a 1:31.9 lap, initiating the action.
As McLaren’s improved performance became evident, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri briefly claimed the 1-2 spots. Speculation arose about Ferrari possibly starting with a heavier fuel load to gather crucial data for Sunday’s race due to their historical struggle with high tire degradation.
Mercedes faced an unexpected gear mishap with George Russell, but he managed to secure the third fastest time, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton in second place, who sported an eye-catching helmet design.
Meanwhile, AlphaTauri’s Liam Lawson reported front brake issues, later clarified as smoke from a fresh set of brakes. Alex Albon also faced brake troubles, citing a “flat-spotted” tire.
The session’s turning point arrived as Max Verstappen, 20 minutes in, emerged for his initial laps of the day, immediately claiming the top spot with a rapid 1:30.9 lap. The reigning World Champion was equipped with Red Bull’s new floor edges on his RB19.
With drivers seemingly conserving tires for Sunday’s race, predictions surfaced of potential three-stop strategies. Only four drivers entered double-digit lap counts in the final 20 minutes of practice.
McLaren opted for fresh softs on the MCL60s, propelling Norris and Piastri to the 1-2 positions, leading Verstappen by almost half a second. However, the Dutchman had yet to unleash his qualifying simulation.
Verstappen’s entry into the simulation saw him dominate the charts with a 1:30.267, securing a 0.240s lead over Norris, while Piastri settled for third. Notably, Norris surged aggressively at the start of his lap but lost pace in the final sector, while Verstappen strategically balanced his pace across the sectors, resulting in two fastest sector times.
Sergio Perez claimed fourth place, with Ferrari drivers Leclerc and Sainz adopting a similar approach to Verstappen, finishing in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
Also Read: Singapore GP: Ferrari Dominates FP2 at Marina Bay as Red Bull Falters
