The Silver Arrows confirm their dominance during the final free practice sessions, leaving their rivals at a distance before the qualifying session.
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The hierarchy seems to be taking shape very clearly before the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying. On the demanding Suzuka circuit layout, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli sent a clear message to the competition: Mercedes is indeed the team to beat this weekend.
In relatively stable weather conditions, with a track still warm despite a more overcast sky, the teams quickly found their bearings. As is often the case during this third free practice session, track activity was initially measured before gradually increasing in intensity.
The first cars to head out were the Alpines, with Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, quickly joined by the rest of the field. It should be noted that hard tires were completely abandoned, with teams focusing their work on medium and soft compounds ahead of qualifying.
McLaren disrupted, Piastri under investigation
At McLaren, the session was not easy. Lando Norris, already hampered by a technical issue the day before, saw his preparation compromised once again. Immobilized for more than half an hour in his garage, the Briton had to wait for his ERS system to be replaced before returning to the track, significantly limiting his running.
His teammate Oscar Piastri appeared more comfortable, but still caught the stewards’ attention after impeding Nico Hülkenberg on track. An incident that recalls the tensions already observed in previous sessions and could earn him a reprimand.
Regarding lap times, the first benchmarks came from Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton leading initially, suggesting a rise in power for the Scuderia. But as soon as the soft tires were fitted, Mercedes regained control.
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The internal duel between Russell and Antonelli then animated the session, with the two drivers within just a few thousandths of each other. At mid-session, the gap was tiny, proof of a very consistent performance level within the German team.
In the final minutes, the entire field switched to qualifying configuration. And once again, Mercedes stepped up the pace. This time, it was Antonelli who took the upper hand, setting the fastest time with a significant lead over Russell.
Gaps already worrying for the competition
Behind the Silver Arrows, the gap is substantial. Charles Leclerc placed Ferrari in third position, but nearly nine-tenths behind. Piastri follows, relegated to more than a second, confirming McLaren’s difficulty in competing over a single lap.
The other teams, including Red Bull, still seem to be trailing, currently unable to close the gap with Mercedes. The session was also marked by a few incidents, notably an off-track excursion by Sergio Pérez and a spectacular spin by Oliver Bearman, fortunately without consequence.
With just a few hours to go before qualifying, the conclusion is clear: barring a major surprise, Mercedes starts with a head start and seems in an ideal position to lock out the front row.
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FP3 Classification of the 2026 F1 Japanese GP:
