McLaren made a strong start at the Japanese Grand Prix, showing an intriguing aerodynamic setup compared to competitors Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes. In a detailed review, Balazs Szabo gives us a close look at the opening day’s proceedings.
McLaren quickly set the pace, with Lando Norris setting the early best time during the initial hour of practice, while Oscar Piastri topped the charts in the second session. Despite a shaky start where he didn’t seem entirely at ease, Norris still led in the first practice, reassuringly noting, “I just needed a bit of time to get back into the groove on this fast track, but the car’s performing well.”
During the second session, McLaren excelled once again, as Piastri edged out Norris. The session was, however, marred by interruptions, starting with Jack Doohan’s significant Turn 1 crash in his Alpine, which brought out a red flag and paused the action for barrier repairs. After a brief chance to complete flying laps, Fernando Alonso found the gravel at the Degner Curve, causing another red flag. Then, as drivers resumed, grass ignited at Turn 9, halting practice once more.
The day’s disruptions left the competitive hierarchy unclear, yet McLaren’s speed, despite early balance issues, was evident. Piastri and Norris initially had minor hiccups, but fine-tuning the MCL39 paid off, showcasing the same edge they demonstrated in Melbourne and Shanghai.
Mercedes’ George Russell, enjoying two podium finishes this season, impressed by leading early in the first session. Though he tapered off, his late consistency in FP1 and FP2 hinted at strong contention for podium spots.
Ferrari and Red Bull’s performances were in line with expectations, competitive, yet lacking the necessary downforce to challenge Mercedes and McLaren. Historically, Ferrari grapples with esteemed corners at Suzuka, but tweaks this weekend helped Leclerc shine briefly with the fastest sector time.
This lead was slim, with a mere tenth of a second separating him from five fellow competitors. Aston Martin’s Alonso also figured in this mix, though his swift sector time was accompanied by an outing into the gravel, suggesting a touch too much speed at the wrong moment.
Intriguingly, McLaren gained their advantage particularly in the track’s middle section, with Norris leading and Piastri close behind. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson was hot on their heels, while Ferraris, Russell’s Mercedes, and Verstappen’s Red Bull lagged by around half a second.
The short third sector remained McLaren’s domain, showcasing the aerodynamic prowess of their MCL39, efficiently managing high-speed corners in Sector 1 while assertively tackling the straights.
Interestingly enough, McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull all opted for lower-downforce aerodynamics this year despite looming Sunday rain forecasts. While McLaren and Ferrari introduced spoon-shaped rear wings, McLaren’s featured a more loaded mainplane, explaining their lower top speed, mirroring Williams and Haas.
On the other hand, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull achieved higher speeds due to slightly reduced downforce, with Leclerc excelling in the first sector, boosted by the straight. Sauber and Alpine topped the speed chart, their speeds exceeding McLaren’s by over six kph.
These dynamics set the stage for an exciting weekend, as teams vie for supremacy amid ever-changing conditions.
