In proper fashion, Red Bull Racing wasted no time as they were the first ones on track to begin Saturday’s practice session after not going out at all during yesterday’s second practice. The team once again showed off their blistering pace. Leading the charge was none other than Formula One championship leader, Max Verstappen, who asserted his authority atop the time charts ahead of teammate Sergio Perez and Mercedes’ George Russell in the final free practice session before qualifying in the afternoon.
Verstappen’s prowess was evident from the outset, as he not only set the fastest time in Friday’s first free practice session but also continued to impress in Saturday’s run, despite opting to sit out the rain-affected second session. The Dutch sensation, gunning for his third consecutive victory in Japan, navigated the iconic Suzuka circuit with precision, clocking a scintillating time of 1 minute 29.563 seconds on the soft tires, setting the benchmark for his rivals to chase. Perez trailed closely behind, just 0.269 seconds behind in second place, with Russell hot on their heels, trailing by a mere 0.355 seconds in third. Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton trailed in fourth place, unable to match the pace of the Red Bull duo and his teammate.
While Red Bull were satisfied with their performance, Ferrari’s hopes were dampened as Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, who had shown promise in Friday’s sessions, struggled to find their rhythm, finishing seventh and tenth respectively. Leclerc let his frustration be known as he vented over the team radio, questioning their approach to the session.
However, the spotlight turned to RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, who endured a challenging session marred by a spin off the track, relegating him to a disappointing 13th place finish. Compounding the pressure on Ricciardo is the looming presence of the highly talented reserve driver, Liam Lawson, poised to seize any opportunity that may arise within the team. As the competition intensifies, Ricciardo faces an uphill battle to maintain his seat amidst growing scrutiny and speculation.
That wraps it up for all the practice sessions of the weekend. Up next is the all-important qualifying session for the Japanese Grand Prix.
