Home F1 Japanese GP: Verstappen leads FP1 as Sargeant causes red flag

Japanese GP, F1, Max Verstappen — SUZUKA, JAPAN - APRIL 05: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on April 05, 2024 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202404050110 // Usage for editorial use only //

Japanese GP: Verstappen leads FP1 as Sargeant causes red flag

05/04/2024

Max Verstappen led the way in FP1 of F1 Japanese GP from teammate Sergio Perez, with Carlos Sainz slotting in third.

It was cloudy for FP1 of F1 Japanese GP as drivers complained of traffic while racing each other for track position. It was fairly quiet other than that apart from the red flag for Williams’ Logan Sargeant, who dropped the car after a grass moment.

He ran the kerb and hopped onto the grass where he lost control to hit the barrier while using the repaired chassis from Australia. It was a Red Bull 1-2 at the front, with Max Verstappen (1m30.056s) leading teammate Sergio Perez (1m30.237s).

They headed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz (1m30.269s), with Mercedes pair of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton doing well to be fourth and fifth. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc did not find as much time to be sixth from Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in an upgraded car.

The McLaren drivers completed the Top 10 with Oscar Piastri eighth and Lando Norris 10th, where Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda was ninth. Alpine with their updates saw an improved run in 11th courtesy Esteban Ocon in his second attempt.

Williams’ Alexander Albon was 12th from Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg, with Stake F1 Team’s Valtteri Bottas lining up in 13th after setting his best lap on the medium compound. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll improved to 15th after a late soft tyre run.

The 2024 season’s first FP1 runner Ayumu Iwasa was 16th in his home event, as the Japanese took over Daniel Ricciardo’s Visa Cash App RB. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was 17th from Stake F1 Team’s Zhou Guanyu, who set his best on the medium tyre.

Haas’ Kevin Magnussen was 19th ahead of Williams’ Sargeant, where the American driver didn’t get a soft tyre run after his early crash. Looking at the PU list, host of F1 drivers got a new ICE fitted for the Japanese GP weekend with the likes of Perez, Hamilton, Ocon and Tsunoda on the list.

The same set of drivers took their second TC, MGU-K and MGU-H, as Ocon and Gasly took a new CE. Here’s the PU list: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Japanese%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20New%20PU%20elements%20for%20this%20Competition.pdf