FP3 Highlights | 2026 Japanese Grand Prix

Final practice at Suzuka. Another session where the Mercedes might was once again evident. And it was the winner last time out Kimi Antonelli who once again found himself on top of the world. His fastest lap of the weekend so far clocked at a one minute 29.362. Two and a half tenths quicker than Silver Arrow teammate George Russell in P2. Charles Leclerc once again demonstrated his driving skills whilst attempting to keep his lively Ferrari going in the right direction. The monogasque sliding his way through both He's giving us a beautiful display of car control this weekend and it's lively there. I mean it's very rare to see the handbrake pulled as Leclerc was backing that in there. That Ferrari once again is absolutely on the edge of rear grip. Despite that he still managed the third best time. Teammate Lewis Hamilton was P5. Having missed a large portion of FP2 yesterday Norris's woes continued in final practice. His MCL40 was again up on the blocks this time for an energy recovery systems replacement. Neither of the McLaren drivers started the last race. The first time this happened to the Woking team since the US Grand Prix of 2005. The defending champion eventually made it on track with about 20 minutes to go. He was P6 of the flag but teammate Oscar Piastri was two better splitting the Ferraris. Oliver Behrmann went for a serious spin exiting Spoon. The Briton booting his hass and finding himself facing the wrong way. Look how close the barriers are as well on the left hand side. He loses it before he really gets to the kerb. Got a lot of steering angle on. You get the MG UK suddenly kick in. You get all the electric power and it really is easy to light it up. Well that was good save. It was like it surprised him as he was getting towards that exit kerb. A little bit wider than some others as well through there. Alpine scored points with both drivers in Shanghai. The first time the French team have done so since Sao Paolo 2024. And they secured that magnificent double podium. Franco Colopinto was keen to get some early laps down in FP3. The Argentine the first man out on track. He had a little wobble coming through the chicane. Racing bulls are also enjoying some salad days at the moment. Currently sixth in the Constructors' Championship. Liam Nawson had a hairy moment leaving Spoon. What the **** man? Oh my god. I mean yeah he just literally parked it on the apex the whole way through. Teammate Arvid Lindblad found himself amongst the Tokyo traffic at one point. Parking up to allow a trio of cars some space ahead. Only to encounter further congestion along the road. Man this Ferrari is off his head. I don't know who this Fiat is. Just overtake them. Valdri Bottas had to perform a slight jink exiting 130R. When the trundling Haas of Behrman appeared on his right. Yeah he blocked me at the end of the lap. Yeah it didn't look great. Deja vu for the Flying Finn a few laps later. He was there again same place. Okay he's not helping us. Cadillac teammate Sergio Perez locked up at the end of the final braking zone. And overshot the chicane. The Mexican driver bouncing over the kerbs and into the gravel. But no serious harm done. Nico Hülkenberg was another who felt obstructed when he encountered a weaving piastri. Oh my god the McLaren. Yeah that wasn't very nice. That was piastri not having a huge amount of awareness. Or looking in his mirrors there. You've got to be getting out of the way. You might be harvesting. You might be slowing down a little bit through 130R. But it's still a narrow quick corner. So another Mercedes won too. Antonelli from Russell. Then came Leclerc, piastri, Hamilton, Norris, Hülkenberg, Verstappen, Bortoletto and Gasly. P11 for Isaac Hajar. And he was ahead of Lawson, Lindblad, Ocon, Behrman, Albon, Colopinto, Sainz, Bottas, Perez, Stroll and Fernando Alonso.