Oscar Piastri Tops FP2 at 2026 Japanese Grand Prix as McLaren Leads Mercedes Duo

Suzuka, Japan, March 27, 2026 — Oscar Piastri delivered a statement performance in Free Practice 2 at the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap of the session and edging out Kimi Antonelli by just 0.092 seconds in a tightly contested evening at Suzuka Circuit.

The McLaren driver clocked a benchmark time of 1:30.133, showcasing strong pace after a difficult start to his 2026 campaign, where he had yet to complete a full race lap. His performance marks a potential turning point as the season heads into its third round.

Piastri Peaks During Qualifying Simulations

Running consistently at the front throughout the session, Piastri initially traded fastest laps with rivals including George Russell and Charles Leclerc. However, it was during the switch to soft-compound tyres that the Australian surged ahead, setting a time that ultimately proved unbeatable.

Antonelli, representing Mercedes, came closest with a lap of 1:30.225, while teammate Russell secured third with 1:30.338, underlining Mercedes’ strong one-lap pace at Suzuka.

Norris Recovers After Early Setback

Defending world champion Lando Norris endured a disrupted session due to a hydraulics issue on his McLaren, limiting his early running. Despite this, he recovered impressively to finish fourth with a lap of 1:30.649, just over half a second behind Piastri.

Ferrari continued its consistent showing, with Leclerc finishing fifth (1:30.846) and Lewis Hamilton in sixth (1:30.980), mirroring their FP1 results.

Midfield Battle Intensifies

Nico Hülkenberg placed seventh for Audi, while Alexander Albon impressed in eighth for Williams, hinting at a competitive weekend for the Grove-based outfit. Oliver Bearman secured ninth for Haas, narrowly ahead of reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who rounded out the top 10.

Verstappen Struggles With Balance Issues

It was a challenging session for Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, with the Dutch driver voicing frustration over “unreal understeer” and gearbox inconsistencies. His teammate Isack Hadjar also struggled, finishing down in 15th.