P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen underlined his status as favourite for pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix by topping FP3, with team-mate Sergio Perez backing up Red Bull’s supremacy in second place
Max Verstappen secured his spot as the favorite for pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix by leading FP3, with Sergio Perez following in second place for Red Bull Racing. Verstappen initially trailed behind Lewis Hamilton during the session, but then set the benchmark time of 1m29.563s after switching to softer tires. Both Red Bull drivers faced challenges with ride problems and wing mirror issues.
Mercedes showed promising form with George Russell in third place and Hamilton in fourth, with the team focusing on improving tire preparation and balance. Fernando Alonso took fifth place after Aston Martin’s late-night upgrades, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri posted sixth and seventh-fastest times. Ferrari struggled with Carlos Sainz in seventh and Charles Leclerc in 10th, with Leclerc expressing frustration with the team’s run timing.
Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull Racing finished ninth, faster than his teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who had a spin at Turn 1 during the session. Overall, the session highlighted intense competition and challenges for all teams as they prepared for qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.
