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2025 Japanese Grand Prix: Free Practice 1 results – How Was Yuki Tsunoda’s First Red Bull Run? l3a14
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McLaren ace Lando Norris, who is leading the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, topped Free Practice 1 at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix (Japanese GP), setting a lap time of 1:28.549.
Mercedes’ George Russell showed excellent pace, finishing only 0.163 behind Norris. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third with +0.416.
The focus, however, was on home hero Yuki Tsunoda, who finally has his Red Bull seat. Let’s see how he fared before taking a look at the complete Japanese Grand Prix Free Practice 1 results.
How Was Yuki Tsunoda in 2025 Japanese GP FP1? 4w2a4y
Yuki Tsunoda, making his first on-track appearance after replacing Liam Lawson at Red Bull, did not waste time getting his first lap in. Just four minutes into Japanese Grand Prix Free Practice 1, Tsunoda put on a spanking-new set of Soft tires and had a go. The Japanese pilot did not exactly push for a blinder, as he wanted to get a feel for his new Red Bull. Except for a bit of oversteer in Sector 1, Tsunoda produced a tidy lap, completing a run around Suzuka in 1:32.571.
His second run went considerably better as he set personal best times in all three Sectors, setting a 1:30.719. Tsunoda went for another push lap before boxing for the first time. He set a solid time of 1:30.076. Tsunoda would have done even better had he not bounced around the last chicane.
After pitting, Tsunoda slapped on another new set of Softs and set a time of 1:29.172. His fifth push lap, however, did not go according to plan, and he only managed a 1:30.889. With 10 minutes left on the clock, Tsunoda had another go on a used set. Carrying a higher fuel load, he managed a 1:34.578.
Yuki Tsunoda vs Max Verstappen in 2025 Japanese GP FP1 6an5b
Much to Red Bull’s delight, Yuki Tsunoda did superbly in FP1, keeping pace with his four-time Drivers’ Championship-winning teammate Max Verstappen. As the chequered flag waved, Tsunoda finished only 0.107 behind Verstappen.
Verstappen 🆚 Tsunoda
Here's our lap time analysis of the two Red Bull team mates from FP1 🤓#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/eH9yondjil
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 4, 2025
Max Verstappen’s Best Time in FP1: 1:29.065
Yuki Tsunoda’s Best Time in FP1: 1:29.172
Complete 2025 Japanese Grand Prix Free Practice 1 Results 535k3j
| Position | Driver | Team | Lap Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:28.549 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:28.712 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:28.965 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:29.051 |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:29.065 |
| 6 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 1:29.172 |
| 7 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:29.222 |
| 8 | Isaac Hadjar | VCarb | 1:29.225 |
| 9 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:29.284 |
| 10 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:29.333 |
| 11 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:29.392 |
| 12 | Ryo Hirakawa* | Alpine | 1:29.394 |
| 13 | Liam Lawson | Vcarb | 1:29.536 |
| 14 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:29.547 |
| 15 | Oscar Piastri | Mclaren | 1:29.708 |
| 16 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:29.758 |
| 17 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | 1:29.827 |
| 18 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:30.073 |
| 19 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:30.122 |
| 20 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 1:30.147 |
*Subbing in for Alpine driver Jack Doohan.
us for a complete breakdown on FP2 later today.