P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Verstappen heads McLaren drivers in final Japan practice
During the final one hour of running, the reigning world champion set a time of 1:30.267s in hot and sunny conditions, securing the top spot in the session. McLaren had a strong showing with Lando Norris finishing second and Oscar Piastri in third. Sergio Perez improved to fourth place, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz took fifth and sixth respectively. Both Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, struggled to match the pace and finished behind the Ferraris. Aston Martin continued to struggle, with Fernando Alonso in ninth place and Lance Stroll near the back. Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas rounded out the top ten. Yuki Tsunoda finished in 14th place after expressing frustration with Kevin Magnussen, who classified ahead of the struggling Pierre Gasly. Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix is set for 3:00 PM local time.
Source: Motorsport Week
