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Charles Leclerc erupted on team radio after qualifying at Suzuka, blaming this season's energy-management rules for a fourth-place start and puzzling lap-time tradeoffs.
Carlos Sainz squeezed a near-perfect lap out of the Williams, but the FW48 simply won’t give more right now. He finished 15th in the first session, 16th in Q2 and on the grid, frustrated by engine cut issues and a gap to the faster midfield cars.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli took his second career pole at Suzuka as Mercedes locked out the front row. Oscar Piastri managed P3 while Verstappen and several big names failed to make Q3.
After a samurai sword lesson in Tokyo with Tetsuro Shimaguchi, Lewis Hamilton said the experience was incredible and revealed he hopes to one day own a sword from the Kill Bill movies.
All the times for qualifying and the race at Suzuka, plus where to catch live coverage and replays for the third round of the season.
Friday at Suzuka underlined a clear truth: McLaren has single-lap pace, but the MCL40 still drops time in specific corners. Data from practice and comments from James Vowles and Andrea Stella point to mechanical gremlins and a deficit in mid-corner performance compared with Mercedes.
Haas rookie Oliver Bearman says the FIA's decision to cut qualifying recharge from 9.0MJ to 8.0MJ at Suzuka will slow cars and leave drivers still struggling with energy management. He wants clearer software rules and more harvesting power instead.
Mercedes has dominated the opening rounds of the 2026 F1 season. George Russell says other teams are looking to hold them back, after engine and front-wing questions put the Silver Arrows under the microscope.
The FIA has cut the maximum recoverable energy in qualifying at Suzuka from 9 MJ to 8 MJ to limit lift-and-coast and power unit clipping. The change is agreed with engine makers, applies only to qualifying, and further fixes are expected in Miami.
Ferrari arrived in the first two races looking sprightly off the line, but Mercedes has still finished one and two. With Japan looming, can the Scuderia turn promising starts into a victory?
The FIA has launched a formal probe into Mercedes after Ferrari asked questions about the W17’s front wing. Video suggested the wing closed in two stages, letting Mercedes skirt a 400ms rule and gain braking stability. Officials are now looking into whether this trick breaks the rules.
Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Lewis Hamilton's improved start to year with Ferrari could start to trouble teammate Charles Leclerc, as Hamilton ends his podium drought and closes in on the championship lead.