George Russell sets fastest practice time in Japan as Mercedes finish one-two

Championship leader Russell saw off team-mate Kimi Antonelli by just 0.026 seconds as Mercedes secured a one-two finish.

World champion Lando Norris was third for McLaren, just 0.132 sec back, and a place clear of team-mate Oscar Piastri.

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Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and sixth respectively for Ferrari with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen seventh.

Russell and Antonelli have one win apiece so far, and the Mercedes men again look to be the pair to beat here in Suzuka.

Russell leads Antonelli by just four points in the standings following the Italian teenager’s first win last time out in China.

Norris and Piastri failed to start at the previous round after technical gremlins, but McLaren will take some encouragement from their early pace with both drivers within two tenths of Russell’s leading time.

Verstappen won in Japan last season, but Red Bull are out of sorts this season, and the Dutchman finished nearly eight tenths back with the four-time world champion facing another difficult weekend. Verstappen’s team-mate Isack Hadjar was 13th.

Elsewhere, Williams’ Alex Albon crashed into the side of Cadillac’s Sergio Perez at the final chicane.

Albon damaged his front wing and spun during the unexpected clash.

“I don’t know if he saw me,” said Albon over the radio. Perez said: “Oh my God. I had no idea that the Williams was next to us. He crashed into me.”

Albon finished only 18th, a place behind team-mate Carlos Sainz as Williams’ poor start to the new campaign looks set to carry over to the third round.

Aston Martin drivers Lance Stroll and Jak Crawford, a stand-in for Fernando Alonso in first practice, propped up the order as British team’s troubles show few signs of abating.