McLaren’s Lando Norris topped the timesheet in the opening practice session for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, finishing just under two tenths of a second ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell as Yuki Tsunoda made his Red Bull Racing debut on home soil. The Japanese driver ended the session a tenth of a second behind fifth-placed team-mate Max Verstappen. 

Tsunoda enjoyed a solid first official outing for his new team as he steps into the Milton Keynes squad in place of Liam Lawson who moves back to Racing Bulls. After initially telling the team he was not pushing and was finding a comfort zone with the car, Tsunoda began to find more pace and after finishing 0.107s off Verstappen and in sixth place he reported that the car was “interesting” and that he had plenty of feedback to offer. 

Norris, meanwhile, set a table-topping time of 1:28.549 on C3 Soft compound Pirelli tyres. The championship-leading McLaren explored the limits throughout, particularly in the final chicane where he suffered a lurid slide and a trip through the gravel, but eventually the Briton stitched together a strong lap to leave himself 0.163s ahead of Russell who again gave Mercedes a good start as he finished more than two tenths clear of third-placed Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. 

The Monegasque driver ended the session with a best time of 1:28.965, 0.086s ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who was 0.014s ahead of Verstappen. 

The defending champion Red Bull driver wasn’t entirely happy with his session and reported that his car was “flexing a lot” in the second sector as he finished just ahead of his new team-mate. 

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso took seventh place ahead of Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar and Mercedes’ rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli while Williams driver Carlos Sainz completed the top 10 order. 

The Spaniard’s team-mate Alex Albon took P11 on the timesheet ahead of Alpine reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa who replaced Jack Doohan for the session. On his return to Racing Bulls Lawson was 13th ahead of Alpine regular Pierre Gasly. Chinese Grand Prix winner Oscar Piastri was a lowly 15th after struggling with his McLaren’s handling during the session.

2025 FIA Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix – Free Practice 1 
1 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:28.549 24 236.086
2 George Russell Mercedes 1:28.712 0.163 29 235.652
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:28.965 0.416 27 234.982
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:29.051 0.502 25 234.755
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:29.065 0.516 23 234.718
6 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:29.172 0.623 25 234.436
7 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:29.222 0.673 25 234.305
8 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:29.225 0.676 28 234.297
9 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:29.284 0.735 28 234.142
10 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1:29.333 0.784 28 234.014
11 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:29.392 0.843 25 233.859
12 Ryō Hirakawa Alpine/Renault 1:29.394 0.845 24 233.854
13 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:29.536 0.987 28 233.483
14 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1:29.547 0.998 23 233.455
15 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:29.708 1.159 25 233.036
16 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:29.758 1.209 25 232.906
17 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber/Ferrari 1:30.023 1.474 21 232.220
18 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1:30.077 1.528 17 232.081
19 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 1:30.123 1.574 21 231.962
20 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber/Ferrari 1:30.147 1.598 26 231.901