McLaren top FB3 with Norris leading Piastri as Russell and leclerc trail; Verstappen only fifth.

McLaren stamped their authority on the final practice session of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, with Lando Norris setting the fastest lap to lead a confident 1-2 finish for the team at Suzuka, narrowly ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ George Russell.

After a chaotic Friday that saw Free Practice 2 interrupted by four red flags, the drivers returned to the track under clear skies for a crucial final session before Qualifying. With conditions finally allowing for meaningful running, McLaren made their pace count.

Norris posted a best time of 1:27.965, just 0.026s ahead of Piastri, who had briefly held the top spot mid-session. Russell was also in the mix, only 0.112s adrift, further confirming Mercedes’ strong start to the weekend.

It wasn’t a smooth morning for everyone. Jack Doohan, who crashed heavily in FP2, was back out in his fully rebuilt Alpine. He joined the track early on soft tyres while others opted for mediums and hards, keen to maximise his recovery time. Fortunately for Alpine, the rebuild had gone to plan – though Doohan still ended the session 14th.

An early red flag briefly interrupted proceedings when a small trackside fire forced a halt, but the session resumed quickly, unleashing a flurry of activity. Oscar Piastri initially set the pace, clocking a 1:28.768 before times began to tumble in the closing stages as more drivers switched to soft tyres.

Norris, despite experiencing multiple off-track moments – including a wide run through the Degners – kept pushing. The McLaren garage had his car up on the stands for checks to the floor mid-session, but it didn’t slow his momentum for long. On returning to the track, he delivered a rapid lap that secured top spot.

Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, now in his third race for Williams, had a scruffy session, including a trip across the grass. He eventually finished 11th, narrowly outside the top ten. His current team-mate Alex Albon fared better, taking 8th place.

There were also problems for Isack Hadjar, who reported a “quite bad” issue in his cockpit early on. Though he did return to the circuit, the Racing Bulls driver struggled for pace and consistency.

Max Verstappen’s session was another head-scratcher. The Red Bull star, still trying to find confidence around Suzuka after a frustrating Friday, could only manage 5th fastest. His car looked unsettled, and both he and Piastri are now under investigation for allegedly ignoring Race Director instructions – potentially jeopardising their qualifying positions.

Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton sixth. Pierre Gasly took ninth for Alpine and home hero Yuki Tsunoda impressed with tenth in his Red Bull debut weekend, giving the Japanese fans something to cheer.

Further down the order, Liam Lawson continued his comeback with a 12th-place finish, ahead of Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli. Rookie Ollie Bearman ended 16th for Haas, while team-mate Esteban Ocon struggled in 18th. Gabriel Bortoleto saved a late spin at the wheel of his Kick Sauber and placed 17th, just ahead of Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg.

With final adjustments now complete, all eyes turn to Qualifying at 3pm local time, where McLaren look poised to challenge for pole — and Red Bull face questions over their form.