RACING: Russell edges Antonelli as Mercedes set early practice pace in Japan

SUZUKA, Japan – Formula One championship leader George Russell topped the timesheets in Friday's opening practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, edging out teammate Kimi Antonelli in a Mercedes one-two finish.

Russell set a fastest lap of 1 minute, 31.666 seconds on a cool and sunny day at Suzuka Circuit. Antonelli, riding the momentum of his first Grand Prix win in China, was just 0.026 seconds slower. McLaren's Lando Norris led the team’s charge in third place ahead of Australian teammate Oscar Piastri.

The pair were 0.132 seconds and 0.199 seconds off Russell’s pace, marking a promising start to the weekend for the reigning constructors’ champions. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fifth, followed by teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Russell and Antonelli have both secured one Sunday race victory each, with the Briton leading the 19-year-old by four points in the championship standings. Both drivers have locked out the front row in every qualifying session this season and have finished the opening Sunday races in one-two formation, giving Mercedes a chance for their first hat-trick of season-opening one-two finishes since 2019.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who has won at Suzuka for the last four years, was seventh for Red Bull, 0.791 seconds off the pace. Liam Lawson in the second Red Bull was eighth, followed by Haas driver Esteban Ocon. Rookie Arvid Lindblad in the other Red Bull rounded out the top 10.

The session was largely incident-free, though Williams’ Alex Albon ran into the gravel at the high-speed Degner corners and later collided with the Cadillac of Mexican driver Sergio Perez. Norris, like Piastri, who missed the start in China due to electrical issues, spent much of the first half in the garage before setting his fastest time.

Aston Martin finished at the back of the timesheets at what is a home event for power unit partners Honda, with Lance Stroll ahead of Jak Crawford, who stood in for Fernando Alonso.

-Reporting by Abhishek Takle; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters