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Oscar Piastri defies odds to top FP2 at Japanese GP: a stunning challenge to Mercedes

Harry Stone by Harry Stone
March 27, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Oscar Piastri defies odds to top FP2 at Japanese GP: a stunning challenge to Mercedes

Oscar Piastri Shatters Mercedes' Grip on Formula 1 with Stunning FP2 Performance at Japanese GP

In a jaw-dropping display of speed and skill, Oscar Piastri has thrown a wrench into Mercedes' dominance at the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, claiming the top spot in the second practice session at the legendary Suzuka Circuit. The McLaren rising star clocked an impressive time of 1m30.133s, edging out Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes by a mere 0.092 seconds, and leaving fans buzzing with excitement.

The session unfolded dramatically, with George Russell, who had enjoyed a dominant showing in the opening practice, finishing third behind Piastri and Antonelli. Just moments earlier, it seemed as if Mercedes was set to continue its reign with Russell leading a Silver Arrows 1-2 in FP1. However, the second session revealed a shift in momentum as Piastri dazzled on his MCL40, starting strong right from his opening lap.

Within the first ten minutes, Piastri surged to the forefront, posting a time of 1m31.495s that outpaced Russell by 0.073 seconds on medium tires. What followed was a fierce battle for the fastest lap as Piastri, Antonelli, and Charles Leclerc exchanged top times during the early runs. But it was Piastri who truly dominated once the soft tires came into play, setting the session’s fastest lap at 1m30.133s after just 23 minutes.

Antonelli, riding high on the momentum of his maiden Grand Prix victory in China, also showed his prowess with a swift 1m30.225s on his first lap of the softs, placing him ahead of Russell, who has also tasted victory in 2026. The stakes were high as Piastri's teammate, Lando Norris, faced a rocky session. A hydraulic leak had sidelined him for the first 23 minutes, but he regrouped to finish fourth, albeit 0.516 seconds behind Piastri.

Norris, who had struggled in the opening rounds of the season, finally found his footing, clocking in at 1m30.649s on softs towards the end of the session. This resurgence was critical for McLaren, who had faced challenges including a double DNS in Shanghai and Piastri’s failure to start in Melbourne, where Norris had managed a fifth-place finish.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also made his presence known, securing fifth place with a time of 1m30.846s, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton slotted in at sixth, 0.847 seconds off the pace. Hamilton, who recently celebrated a podium finish for Ferrari, struggled to find his rhythm and was rarely a threat during this session.

Completing the top ten were Alex Albon, Oliver Bearman, and Max Verstappen, who faced his own challenges with his RB22. Verstappen reported significant understeer, a concern echoed by his teammate Isack Hadjar, who finished down in 15th. The session was largely trouble-free, with only a brief yellow flag due to Albon’s throttle issues early on, but he managed to return to action quickly.

Unfortunately, Arvid Lindblad was unable to set a lap time, retiring early due to a gearbox issue that arose soon after he left the garage.

As the teams prepare for the next round of the championship, Piastri’s stunning performance has sent shockwaves through the paddock, hinting at a thrilling battle for supremacy. Can the young Australian maintain this momentum and challenge the might of Mercedes? Only time will tell as the Japanese GP weekend unfolds.

Tags: Ferrariformula-1-enLewis Hamiltonmax-verstappen-enMcLarenMercedesOscar Piastri
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