Yuki Tsunoda stepped in for Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix, making an impressive debut in the car despite the intense pressure. Tsunoda, who replaced Liam Lawson, quickly adapted to the challenging Red Bull and finished just one tenth behind Max Verstappen in the first free practice session. This strong performance marked a stark contrast to Lawson’s struggles earlier in the season, signaling hope for the team’s second-driver role.
Red flags disrupt practice sessions
The second practice session was marred by no fewer than four red flags, creating significant interruptions. The first red flag came when Jack Doohan crashed heavily into the barriers after a DRS malfunction on the way into Turn 1. The session was halted for 30 minutes while the car was cleared. Moments after the restart, Fernando Alonso spun off track at Degner curve, causing a second red flag.
Fires and crashes add to the chaos
In addition to the crashes, the second session saw a fire break out at the Degner curve due to sparks from the skid planks. After a third red flag, the fire was extinguished, but the session was once again disrupted by another fire. These multiple interruptions made it difficult for teams to find consistent running, and Tsunoda’s performance was notably affected by the chaotic conditions.
Norris leads the practice times
Despite the interruptions, McLaren’s Lando Norris showed his form, setting the fastest time in both sessions. Norris, who is currently leading the championship, finished the first session 0.15 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell. By the end of the second session, Oscar Piastri put McLaren in a dominant position with a one-two finish.
Red Bull faces challenges
While Tsunoda made a promising start, Verstappen and Tsunoda struggled with the handling of the Red Bull, which was proving difficult to manage even for the experienced drivers. Verstappen finished the second session in eighth, while Tsunoda’s lap times left him in 18th place, though this was partially due to not completing a quick lap on the soft tires.
In the midst of the chaos, McLaren emerged as the team to watch, with Norris and Piastri putting in strong performances heading into the race weekend.
