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Kimi Antonelli dominates final practice at Japanese GP: Mercedes strikes back against rivals

Redação by Redação
March 28, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

Mercedes Dominates Final Practice Ahead of Thrilling Japanese Grand Prix

In a stunning display of power, Mercedes has reclaimed its dominance as the pacesetter in the final practice session leading up to the highly anticipated Japanese Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli blazed through the track, clocking an impressive time of 1m29.362s, leaving George Russell trailing by a significant 0.254 seconds, marking a powerful 1-2 finish for the German team.

While the excitement was palpable, McLaren, who had shown promising speed in Friday's practice with Oscar Piastri at the helm, faced a sobering reality. Piastri found himself a staggering 1.002 seconds off the leading pace, landing in fourth place behind Charles Leclerc's Ferrari, who secured a strong third position. The second McLaren, driven by reigning world champion Lando Norris, struggled early on due to an ERS issue that threatened to sideline him for the session. However, Norris managed to claw his way back to sixth, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari.

Audi made headlines with a commendable performance, showing significant improvement as they climbed to fifth place at one point during the session. Ultimately, they finished with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto in seventh and ninth, respectively, narrowly edging out a disgruntled Max Verstappen, who found his Red Bull team struggling in eighth.

In a late surge, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly managed to push Isack Hadjar's Red Bull out of the coveted top 10, showcasing the competitive nature of this session. Meanwhile, Aston Martin faltered at their home ground, lagging a full second behind the pace set by Cadillac, drawing concern from their fanbase.

The only major incident of the session came from Ollie Bearman, who executed a fast but eye-catching spin out of Spoon—a reminder that the thrilling unpredictability of Formula 1 is always just around the corner.

As the drivers gear up for qualifying, the stage is set for an electrifying showdown at the Suzuka Circuit. With Mercedes back in the mix, will they maintain their momentum, or will McLaren and Ferrari rise to the occasion? The tension is palpable, and fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this gripping motorsport saga.

Final Practice Results: 1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1m29.362s 2. George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.254s 3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.867s 4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +1.002s 5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +1.021s 6. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +1.238s 7. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – +1.296s 8. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +1.548s 9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – +1.638s 10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +1.720s

As we count down to the race, one question looms large: Can Mercedes hold onto their lead, or will the competition rally for an upset? Fans can hardly wait to find out!

Tags: Ferrariformula-1-enjapanese-grand-prixKimi AntonelliLewis Hamiltonmax-verstappen-enMcLarenMercedes
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