In the opening practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri experienced an intense moment when he found himself boxed in by rival cars, Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc, during a simultaneous overtaking attempt. Approaching the notorious turn one—a site of significant crashes in the past—Piastri, who was finishing a long run, quipped on team radio, “Well, that didn’t go well,” reflecting his frustration after the thrilling yet precarious three-wide situation.
Former world champion Jenson Button commented on the incident, emphasising the elation of executing a double overtake, even if it occurs during practice. He noted that Piastri would likely feel frustrated as he aimed to complete his laps without further delays, particularly as he was caught behind an Alpine again. Button pointed out the danger of such close-quarters racing, suggesting that it could have easily resulted in a collision, given that Piastri was unaware of the positioning of both rival cars.
Despite the challenges, the battle provided valuable insights for Piastri, as former driver Karun Chandhok explained that navigating these situations in practice helps drivers understand car dynamics and following closely in preparation for the race.
Piastri ultimately concluded the session with impressive performance, achieving the fourth-fastest time, just behind his teammate Lando Norris, who came in third. Both McLaren drivers showcased strong pace, trailing the leading Mercedes cars of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli by a mere two tenths of a second.
Earlier in the session, Norris faced his own issues with an unusually delayed installation lap due to mounting aero sensors on his car. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez and Alex Albon had a collision that resulted in Albon spinning out, underscoring the session’s competitive and sometimes chaotic nature.
Despite the inclusion of numerous upgrades, including a new floor, the Red Bull pair of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar struggled, finishing seventh and thirteenth, respectively, well off the lead pace.
Overall, Piastri and Norris’s solid performance indicates a promising start for McLaren at Suzuka, setting the stage for an exciting race weekend.