Rand Norris believes George Russell will prove that McLaren is McLaren’s main threat in Japan’s Grand Prix qualifying, based on Friday’s limited run.
FP2 was interrupted by four red flags, including a massive crash from Jack Doohan, preventing the team from completing important long runs, and eligible simulations were also suspended. This makes the FP1 a great session to compare performances, and while it was Norris who put the Times on top, the championship leader has turned his eyes to Mercedes.
“I think we’re still on top, but I think George was just as fast and very fast this morning as we did,” Norris said. “So I think Mercedes is in a good place. Maybe they’d seen Red Bull a little further away, but they looked at the qualifying rounds and then they got a little closer.
“To be honest, I think it’s normal, but it’s just a messy session. So I don’t think this session is probably the best example of where everyone was. I think FP1 was probably a better example than you’ve seen the teams in turn.
But I’m still nervous and think tomorrow will be a tough battle. In other words, I hope that’s not the case. I hope that’s great and easy for us, but at least Mercedes is certainly true, and George from today’s show will be a bit of a challenge tomorrow. ”
Teammate Oscar Piastri set the fastest time at the end of FP2, but he didn’t complete a clean soft tire lap in the first practice session, acknowledging that Suzuka’s conditions have made it difficult to fully understand the car’s setup.
“Difficult,” Piastri said. “I think there’s a bit of a track resurfaced and there’s a really strong wind. That was a challenge, and around here the wind is where the balance really changes.
“Obviously, FP2 had a pretty halted start so it was difficult to get into rhythm, but I think I felt quite comfortable at the end of the day.
“It’s really hard to know. I think the FP1 is hard to get the car pace. I think the FP2 was even more comfortable. But I think Mercedes looked just as fast. We didn’t find much in the software.
“The pace is there and I’m sure there will be a good pace for the rest of the weekend, but it’s still a bit tricky at this point. So I think we need to still be on our toes.”