Lando Norris topped final practice at the Japanese Grand Prix as grass fires around the Suzuka circuit continued to cause concern ahead of qualifying.
Drivers’ Championship leader Norris struggled to control his car for much of the session but delivered a time of 1:27.965s to edge out his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri by just a couple of hundredths of a second.
The only driver who appears to have the pace to challenge the McLarens for pole position in qualifying, live on Sky Sports F1 at 7am, is George Russell, who was a tenth of a second back from Norris for Mercedes.
Ferrari remained off the pace with Charles Leclerc fourth and Lewis Hamilton sixth, with the pair either side of half a second back from the McLarens.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen split the Ferraris in fifth but said over team radio in the closing stages of the session that his Red Bull was “all over the shop”.
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Gabriel Bortoleto shrieks over the team radio after hitting the grass leading to a near miss.
Verstappen’s new team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was three tenths of a second back from the Dutchman in ninth, with Williams’ Alex Albon and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly ahead of him.
Tsunoda is making his Red Bull debut after being promoted from junior squad Racing Bulls in a remarkable switch with Liam Lawson just two races into the season.
However, the full competitive picture was left unclear as much of the field were prevented from completing their final qualifying simulations when a second grass fire-forced red flag of the session was thrown with seven minutes remaining.
A similar length of delay had occurred in the early stages of the session for the same reason, following two red flags in second practice on Friday.
The FIA had cut the grass and dampened it ahead of the session in an attempt to overcome the issue, but the possibility of further interruptions in qualifying now looms, with more serious potential implications for Sunday’s race.
Sky Sports F1’s live Japanese GP schedule
Saturday April 5
- 6am: Japanese GP Qualifying build-up*
- 7am: Japanese GP Qualifying*
- 9am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
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Here’s your paddock pass for the Japanese Grand Prix, joining Naomi Schiff as she shares a sneak peek in Suzuka!
Sunday April 6
- 4.30am: Japanese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
- 6am: THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX*
- 8am: Japanese GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
- 9am: Ted’s Notebook*
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula is at the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
