Japanese GP: Fernando Alonso tops FP1 at wet Suzuka

Fernando Alonso went fastest in a wet FP1 session ahead of the two Ferrari cars of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.

Heavy rain was forecast for Friday and heavy rain is what we got ahead of the first practice session at Suzuka since 2019.

Indeed, the rain would ease up as the session went on before another shower, and so the tyres of choice would remain intermediate and wet throughout, as the drivers once again got a taste of wet running for a second weekend straight following on from the Singapore Grand Prix.

The session, then, probably won’t be too representative of final pace this weekend but it was Alonso who at least took the honours of going fastest in his Alpine, ahead of the Ferrari pair of Leclerc and Sainz.

His best time was three-tenths quicker than the Scuderia duo whilst it was the other Alpine of Esteban Ocon that finished in fourth, and proved to be the only other driver within a second of Alonso in the tricky conditions.

Alpine might be hoping the wet weather remains for qualifying and the race judging by this showing at least, then.

In P5 was Kevin Magnussen in the Haas and they were looking quick in the wet as well, with team-mate Mick Schumacher going seventh fastest before having a crash into the barriers that heavily damaged the front of his car, with him aquaplaning off.

Between the Haas cars was Max Verstappen, as he looks to seize the title this weekend and put the championship to bed with four races to spare – he’ll surely be hoping for dry conditions in qualifying and the race to at least take one risk out of this weekend.

Lando Norris, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez completed the top 10, meanwhile.

That’s the first practice session done and FP2 will follow shortly, with it getting underway