Kimi Antonelli tops Japanese Grand Prix FP3 after Lando Norris suffers another McLaren issue

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Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time during FP3 for the Japanese Grand Prix after Lando Norris was forced to sit out the session due to ongoing issues with his McLaren.

Norris had already lost valuable track time during Friday’s practice sessions after his MCL40 developed a hydraulic leak. The reigning world champion missed crucial running in the more representative FP2, and McLaren confirmed ahead of FP3 that it was “unlikely” he would return to the car for the final session.

Focus for McLaren now turns to Qualifying later today, following a run of reliability issues, which has seen Oscar Piastri fail to start a race this season and a double did not start in China last time out.

Arvid Lindblad will be hoping to maximise his track time after missing most of FP2 yesterday due to a gearbox issue on his Racing Bulls car. With the rookie having never raced at the circuit before, every minute before qualifying was crucial.

Lewis Hamilton set the early benchmark with his opening laps in the first 15 minutes. The Briton had been audibly frustrated with his Ferrari on Friday, marking a difficult shift in momentum following his maiden podium with the team in China last time out.

With the leading teams yet to appear on track, Hamilton posted a 1:31.056, with Pierre Gasly the closest challenger. The Alpine driver was around half a second slower in the early running.

Sergio Perez struggled with his Cadillac at the Casio Triangle chicane, missing the apex and heading down the escape road. Rather than following the full route, he bounced over the gravel before diving into the pit lane to check the car’s floor.

With most cars out on track as teams looked to maximise the session, a few on-track tussles were inevitable. Nico Hulkenberg encountered a weaving Oscar Piastri on the back straight between Turns 14 and 16, compromising his lap as he was caught behind the McLaren. The incident will be investigated after the session.

At the halfway point of the session, Kimi Antonelli topped the timesheets with a 1:29.929, comfortably ahead of Charles Leclerc, who sat between the two Mercedes.

Shots from the McLaren garage showed the team lowering the car from its stands, with Norris preparing to climb back in for the closing stages of FP3. It was a reassuring sign for the Briton, who needed crucial track time ahead of qualifying later on Saturday, peeling out of the pitlane with 24 minutes remaining.

Norris completed just 37 laps across Friday’s practice sessions, leaving him significantly behind his team-mate, who had logged an additional 20 laps around Suzuka.

Ollie Bearman suffered a huge moment on the back straight, snapping sideways at high speed. It appeared the Haas driver was too aggressive on the throttle, missing the Turn 14 kerb before managing to gather the car and continue.

Both Mercedes drivers were close behind at the time, with George Russell praising the save over team radio, saying: “That was a good catch.”

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu later echoed that view on Sky Sports F1, suggesting Bearman had simply been “a bit too aggressive.”

Max Verstappen cut a frustrated figure during the session, complaining of “horrendous” shifting issues on a fast lap. When asked by race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase which corners were affected, the Red Bull driver replied: “Everywhere. Everywhere is just ****.”

The four-time world champion had already expressed his dissatisfaction with the car last time out in Shanghai, where he retired from Sunday’s Grand Prix due to ERS cooling issues. It appears Red Bull are still struggling to provide Verstappen with a set-up he feels fully comfortable with.

Antonelli retained his position at the top of the timing sheets at the end of FP3, leading from his teammate by two tenths of a second. Leclerc rounded off the top three, with the Ferraris being split by Piastri’s McLaren.