P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Teams had just a single practice session to collect data in Japan as FP2 was impacted by rainfall, but Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is nevertheless encouraged by his squad’s potential.
Carlos Sainz expressed his surprise that Ferrari is closer to Red Bull than he initially thought after the first day of practice in Japan. The rain-affected second practice session at Suzuka was less significant, making FP1 the more crucial session on Friday. Sainz finished third in FP1, trailing Max Verstappen by two-tenths, with Verstappen and Sergio Perez completing the top two spots. Despite the encouraging gap, Sainz acknowledges that Red Bull remains the team to beat. He highlighted the progress made by Ferrari since the previous year, with a strong start to the season and a better car setup contributing to their competitiveness. Sainz anticipates a challenging weekend ahead, considering Red Bull’s continued superiority and the competition from McLaren and Mercedes.
