GP Japan 2026 – FP1 standings: Russell and Antonelli in front, but there is balance! Ferrari behind the McLarens

The ranking of free practice 1 of the Japanese F1 GP

Here is the complete ranking at the end of free practice 1 of the 2026 F1 Japanese GP:

Pos	Pilot	Team	Detachment	Tires	Turns

1	George Russell	Mercedes	1:31.666	Soft	27
2	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+0.026	Soft	26
3	Lando Norris	McLaren-Mercedes	+0.132	Soft	20
4	Oscar Piastri	McLaren-Mercedes	+0.199	Soft	23
5	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+0.289	Soft	25
6	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+0.374	Soft	23
7	Max Verstappen	Red Bull-RB Ford	+0.791	Soft	27
8	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls-RB Ford	+0.863	Soft	27
9	Esteban Ocon	Haas-Ferrari	+0.935	Soft	23
10	Arvid Lindblad	Racing Bulls-RB Ford	+0.999	Soft	29
11	Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	+1,093	Soft	27
12	Nico Hulkenberg	Audi	+1,132	Soft	26
13	Isack Hadjar	Red Bull-RB Ford	+1,137	Soft	27
14	Oliver Bearman	Haas-Ferrari	+1,234	Soft	27
15	Pierre Gasly	Alpine-Mercedes	+1,312	Soft	25
16	Franco Colapinto	Alpine-Mercedes	+1,695	Soft	24
17	Carlos Sainz	Williams-Mercedes	+1,717	Medium	26
18	Alexander Albon	Williams-Mercedes	+2,031	Soft	22
19	Sergio Perez	Cadillac-Ferrari	+2,555	Soft	18
20	Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac-Ferrari	+2,824	Soft	24
21	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin-Honda	+3,628	Soft	22
22	Jack Crawford	Aston Martin-Honda	+4,696	Hard	11

The news of FP1 at Suzuka

George Russell And Andrea Kimi Antonellifront wing dancer or not, they start again where they left off two weeks ago in China: even in the first free practice of the weekend of Japanese GP to Suzuka two o’clock Mercedes in fact, they lead the standings, albeit within a framework of a certain balance compared to their pursuers, although the results and times of FP1 must always be taken with a pinch of salt.

Behind the Silver Arrows are the McLarenwith Lando Norris who lost the first half of the session due to a technical problem but then managed to take third place at the end, with a gap of 132 thousandths from the top (also taking advantage of the better tire conditions and cleanliness of the track when he attempted the fastest lap). Fourth position for Oscar Piastriprotagonist of a more linear session and in any case less than two tenths behind Russell.

The two are a little later Ferrariwhich in any case are the only other two cars under half a second late: Charles Leclerc he is fifth at +0.289, with Lewis Hamilton in sixth place (+0.374) on the same Soft tyres. However, it must be said that the Monegasque made some mistakes in his first attempts with the tires Pirelli “red”, managing to close a clean lap only on the third go, at a time when the compounds were no longer very fresh. Only 7th Max Verstappenwhich however pays a gap of almost 8 tenths.

Of note are the two accidents involving no consequences Alex Albon: the Williams driver first hit the barriers with his left rear at Turn 9, while then, a few minutes later, he attacked Sergio Perez’s Cadillac at the final chicane, but entered a little late and ended up spinning.

F1 GP Japan 2026, live and ranking of free practice 1

You can relive the emotions of the first free practice session in Japan with our live coverage.

The weekend program

There F1 back on track in the Italian morning, with the free practice 2 scheduled from 7.00 in the morning and which will certainly be useful to give us a slightly clearer picture of the balance of power, also considering the traditional tests on race pace. Tomorrow, Saturday 28 March 2026, at FP3 still at 3.30 with the qualifications instead scheduled at 7.00 in the morning.

Sunday 29 March, however, will be the time for another – the last for the moment – early rising, with the Japanese GPthird stage of the 2026 F1 World Championship which will start at 7 in the morning (but remember that during the night we will have to set the clocks forward for the transition to summer time). Here are all the weekend times with details of television coverage.