Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the pace in Japan.Photo: David Davies/PA Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the pace in Japan.Photo: David Davies/PA 
Max Verstappen set the pace in first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix as Willams endured another Friday session to forget. (More Motosport News)fox.game
Reigning champion Verstappen retired in Melbourne a fortnight ago but still leads the way in the drivers’ standings and the Red Bull driver was once again topping the timesheets.
Verstappen’s time of one minute 20.056 seconds was enough to see him go quickest at Suzuka, with team-mate Sergio Perez his closest challenger 0.181 seconds back.
Lewis Hamilton Thinks Sebastian Vettel Could Be Good Fit For Mercedes🚩 RED FLAG 🚩Logan Sargeant into the barriers"I'm sorry, man" the Williams driver says to his team#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/V5OSj8SlDi
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 5, 2024A red flag half way through the session stopped running for 11 minutes as Logan Sargeant crashed off at turn two – further adding to the Williams woes.
Sargeant sat out the Australian Grand Prix two weeks ago as team-mate Alex Albon took his car after destroying his own in a practice crash and the team currently have no spare chassis.
Albon went 12th fastest after the action restarted, while Verstappen assumed his usual position as the car to beat.
Some nice results from the Bulls 🔥 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/AXBwcI4Eo2
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) April 5, 2024Carlos Sainz, who won in Australia last time out, was third-fastest for Ferrari ahead of the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, while the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc was sixth.
Fernando Alonso’s Australian Grand Prix F1 Penalty Was The Right Decision - George Russell Local favourite Yuki Tsunoda was ninth for RB behind both the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri – whose team-mate Lando Norris rounded out the top 10.fox.game