Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were impressed by George Russell’s speed during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix.
McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri believe that Mercedes will be their biggest competitor at the Japanese Grand Prix. After victories in Australia and China, Norris and Piastri are favorites to triumph in Japan, and Friday’s practice sessions did not change that — Norris was the fastest in the first practice, while Piastri topped the second, which was interrupted four times due to red flags.
Although Norris believes McLaren are still on top, he was impressed by George Russell’s speed in the first practice, where the Mercedes driver was just 0.163s behind him. His teammate, debutant Andrea Kimi Antonelli, failed to put together a representative lap but appeared competitive in long runs. “I think we’re still on top, but George was really fast this morning, just as fast as we were,” Norris said.
“Mercedes looks very strong. Maybe Red Bull seems a bit weaker, but usually their form improves in qualifying.”
“The second practice was quite chaotic, so it’s not the most representative. I think the first practice gave a better indication of the teams’ order. However, I expect a close and difficult fight tomorrow.”
“I hope it will be easy for us, but I’m sure Mercedes — and especially George, judging by today’s performance — will challenge us tomorrow.”
“We have made some progress, but there are still areas to improve. The wind was problematic, especially in the first sector, where the slightest change can significantly affect the car. I believe all teams are facing the same challenge.”
Piastri agreed with Norris’ assessment of the current state after the first two practices.
“It’s really hard to judge. In the first session, we couldn’t get the most out of the car, while in the second, I felt much more comfortable. Still, the Mercedes was very fast.”
“I feel confident in our speed for the rest of the weekend, but we still have to be cautious.”
McLaren leads the constructors’ standings after the first two race weekends of the 2025 season, with the British team currently holding a 21-point lead over second-placed Mercedes.
