Japanese GP: Max Verstappen makes statement of intent at Suzuka

Red Bull's runaway Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen roared back from his team's shock defeat in Singapore with a clear message to rivals at the Japanese Grand Prix on Friday.

The double world champion was a man on a mission at Suzuka, fastest in both practice sessions and laying down a marker with his first lap out of the pits before staying on top throughout the day.

The second session ended two minutes early when Alpine's Pierre Gasly locked up and crashed at Degner Two, bringing out red flags.

Verstappen's record run of 10 wins in a row, and Red Bull's 15 successive victories, came to an end last Sunday when he finished only fifth under the floodlights at Marina Bay with Mexican teammate Sergio Perez eighth.

The Dutch 25-year-old lapped with a best time of one minute 31.647 seconds, 0.626 quicker than Ferrari's Singapore winner Carlos Sainz, in Friday's first session and went on to do a lap of 1:30.688.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who was fourth in practice one when he was testing a new floor on his car, was second in the second session and 0.320 slower than Verstappen.

"It's still early days but certainly Max laid down a statement of intent with his first flying lap of the weekend, which was truly impressive," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told reporters.

"Max back to the front again, so it was fun while it lasted," joked McLaren boss Zak Brown on Sky Sports television.

Verstappen won in Japan last year from pole position and arrived in Suzuka expecting his car to be back in a dominant position.

McLaren's Lando Norris was third fastest in both sessions, 0.745 and 0.464 off the pace respectively.

Perez, 151 points behind Verstappen after 15 of 22 races, was only 11th and ninth respectively and more