P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Not much could be read into practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, but what laps were possible paint an interesting picture heading into the race.
A red flag in Free Practice 1 and the arrival of rain in the second session made it challenging for Formula 1 teams to gather usual performance insights on Friday of the Japanese Grand Prix. Despite the uncertainties, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz noted positive signs from FP1, suggesting they were closer to Red Bull than expected. However, Sainz remained cautious, emphasizing the unknown variables like fuel loads and engine modes that could impact performance. Red Bull’s interest peaked with Charles Leclerc’s impressive run on Hard compound Pirelli tyres in FP1, raising questions about the Monegasque’s pace relative to Verstappen. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton acknowledged Mercedes’ struggles to match the top two teams based on his FP1 performance, highlighting a significant drop-off in pace over a seven-lap stint.
