Japanese GP Practice: Oscar Piastri Leads McLaren Revival as Rivals Struggle

Oscar Piastri delivered a standout performance in Practice Two at the Japanese GP, topping the timesheets and signaling a potential comeback for McLaren in the 2026 season. Piastri clocked a blistering lap time of 1:30.133, edging out Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by just 0.092 seconds. Championship leader George Russell followed closely in third, highlighting the tight competition at the iconic Suzuka Circuit.

Mercedes Still in the Fight

Despite being outpaced in the second session, Mercedes showed consistent performance throughout the day. George Russell, who topped the first practice session, indicated that the team still has more pace to unlock.

Race simulations suggested Mercedes may retain an edge over longer runs, even as McLaren impressed with their single-lap speed. The battle between the two teams is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the weekend.

Aston Martin Hands Jak Crawford Key FP1 Role at Japanese GP

Lando Norris Faces Setbacks

Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, endured a disrupted session due to a hydraulic issue, limiting his track time. Despite the setback, Norris managed to secure fourth place, demonstrating McLaren’s improved overall pace.

However, the incident raises concerns about reliability—an issue that has already troubled the team earlier this season.

Ferrari Lacking Confidence

It was a challenging session for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc finishing fifth and Lewis Hamilton in sixth.

Lewis Hamilton voiced frustration over team radio, citing a lack of confidence in the car during race simulations. Both drivers were over 0.7 seconds off the pace, suggesting Ferrari still has significant work to do ahead of qualifying.

 

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Red Bull’s Unexpected Struggles

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day came from Red Bull Racing. Four-time Japanese GP winners, led by Max Verstappen, struggled for grip and pace throughout both sessions.

Max Verstappen finished a distant 10th, nearly 1.4 seconds behind Piastri. Despite bringing upgrades to Suzuka, Red Bull appeared unable to extract performance from their car, raising questions about their competitiveness this weekend.

Midfield Teams Close the Gap

The midfield battle proved intense, with strong performances from drivers like Nico Hulkenberg, Alex Albon, and Oliver Bearman, all finishing inside the top 10.

Their pace suggests that the gap between top teams and midfield contenders may be narrowing—adding another layer of unpredictability to the race weekend.

Is McLaren Back in the Title Fight?

After a difficult start to the season, McLaren’s performance at the Japanese GP offers renewed hope. Without introducing major upgrades, the team has shown clear progress, particularly in Piastri’s confidence through Suzuka’s demanding corners.

While it remains to be seen whether they can maintain this momentum into qualifying and the race, McLaren’s resurgence has already shaken up the competitive order.

With Practice Three and qualifying still to come, teams will be working overnight to fine-tune setups and address weaknesses. Mercedes may still hold the advantage over race distance, but McLaren’s speed cannot be ignored.

As the Japanese Grand Prix unfolds, fans can expect a thrilling contest with shifting dynamics and no clear favorite—just the way Formula 1 should be.