Kimi Antonelli tops Suzuka practice, Mercedes dominate
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- Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time of 1:29.362 in final practice at Suzuka, 0.254 seconds ahead of teammate George Russell.
- Mercedes reclaimed both pole positions and race victories this season, and its pace in practice was clearly superior to the rest of the field.
- Charles Leclerc restored Ferrari to third in the practice standings, 0.867 seconds slower than Antonelli.
- Lando Norris completed a late ERS battery pack change after a hydraulics leak, finished sixth, and now faces a potential grid penalty after using three energy stores in as many weekends.
- Audi impressed by finishing seventh with Nico Hulkenberg and ninth with Gabriel Bortoleto, ahead of the quickest Red Bull.
- Max Verstappen was eighth, 1.5 seconds off Antonelli’s pace, and complained about gear‑shift issues over team radio.
Why it matters: Antonelli’s speed cements Mercedes’ championship lead while McLaren’s recurring ERS and hydraulics problems risk a grid penalty that could erode its points tally; Audi’s strong midfield showing signals a tighter battle for podium‑adjacent positions, and Verstappen’s slowdown highlights Red Bull’s struggle to match Mercedes’ pace.
