Max Verstappen Dominates Japanese Grand Prix’s First Practice Session, Ready to Reassert Dominance after Singapore Setback

Max Verstappen’s Japanese revenge mission got off to the perfect start on Friday as the reigning world champion topped the leaderboard after a ferocious first practice session.

Verstappen, 25, is in a relentless mood here after his shock fifth-place finish in Singapore last weekend saw his 10-race winning run come to an end.

He was almost a second-and-a-half quicker than Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in Suzuka. Carlos Sainz, winner of the race in Marina Bay, came closest to the Dutchman’s 1:31.647 lap time, but was still seven tenths off the pace.

Verstappen said the track ‘felt very nice’ on the simulator ahead of Friday’s practice, and that translated onto the Honda circuit, with the championship leader finding joy on Suzuka’s long, fast corners. Aside from one moan on the radio regarding George Russell’s track position during his hot lap, it was smooth-sailing for the Dutchman, an ominous warning for the rest of the grid.

‘Max laid down a statement of intent with his first flying lap of the weekend, which was truly impressive,’ purred Christian Horner, the Red Bull chief quietly confident his team can return to the top step of the podium here.