The current Formula 1 Champion confirmed the initial indications that the RB20 is, as expected, a useful tool on the Suzuka track. His teammate, Perez, came in second in terms of speed.
Although Ferrari initially seemed to be the second best team, they failed to show their pace in the final practice and lagged behind. Carlos Sainz finished in seventh place and Charles Leclerc in tenth.
Leclerc expressed his frustration with Ferrari’s race plan upon returning to the pits, stating that he missed two qualifying laps.
Mercedes seemed to be in good shape, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finishing third and fourth respectively. However, the question is whether they can maintain their speed during qualifying, as they have been inconsistent in the past.
The session was tight, with the top ten drivers finishing within six tenths of a second. This sets the stage for an exciting qualifying session.
The final practice session for the Japanese GP will be crucial, as it was not possible to run in the rain-affected FP2. This means that teams will have only this remaining hour to adjust their cars for qualifying and the race.
Initial indications suggest that Red Bull is the team to beat, with Ferrari closely following. While McLaren struggled in FP1, Mercedes performed better. However, without a proper FP2, it is difficult to determine how these two teams compare.
Aston Martin, with its highly upgraded AMR24, seemed to maintain its usual position as the fifth fastest team. However, Alonso will have the upgraded car today, so it remains to be seen if one hour is enough for him to adapt to it.
Williams can breathe a sigh of relief as Sargeant’s chassis survived the accident. The car was rebuilt with old parts, as the team did not have enough new parts.
Overall, FP3 promises to be an intriguing session to watch.
The session started in clear conditions, with a track temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and an air temperature of 17 degrees.
Teams wasted no time in hitting the track. Verstappen was the first driver out, followed by teammate Perez and the Sauber duo. Ferrari and Haas quickly joined them.
Hulkenberg had an immediate lock-up, but there was no drama. The same cannot be said for teammate Magnussen, who lost control of his car at Turn 11 and ended up in the gravel. Fortunately, there was no damage, just a dirty car and tires.
K-Mag had a brief off-track moment at the tight corner, but there was no significant damage and he quickly returned to the session.
Hamilton started his session on soft tires, as did the Sauber drivers, while others, including Russell, were on mediums. The seven-time Formula 1 champion quickly climbed to the top of the time sheets.
Verstappen soon complained of excessive vibration in the mirrors of his RB20, while Perez expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of his car.
Perez then mentioned that he was struggling a lot at low speeds, experiencing poor handling. He was advised to pit, but decided to stay out on track and reported better handling on his next lap, possibly due to some adjustments made on the steering wheel.
Things were even worse for Albon in the Williams, who expressed a complete lack of confidence in his car. Sargeant also had complaints about the rear of his car.
The replay images revealed that Ricciardo lost control of his VCARB in turn 2 while starting a flying lap. He spun on the grass but quickly recovered and continued.
You make us spin, Daniel, spin 🥴
The Honey Badger had a little spin at T1 and continues. #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/XdGfu05ssZ
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2024
Twenty minutes into the session, Hamilton had the fastest time on soft tires, with Verstappen in second on medium tires, just 0.128s behind the British driver. This clearly demonstrates the advantage of the RB20.
Ocon then reported that his A524 was bouncing and asked the team to investigate. Meanwhile, Verstappen mentioned understeer in his car, and replay images showed him trying to fix a loose tape on his right side mirror.
The replay also showed Verstappen running over the kerbs at turn 14, followed by Piastri doing the same at turn 9.
Nothing to see here 🫣 #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/B79nQ97KUW
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2024
As the session entered its final twenty minutes, teams focused on long runs and had not yet done any qualifying simulations.
Albon decided to change that and went out for a qualifying lap with a new set of soft tires.
Shortly after setting the fastest time, Verstappen reported that the car’s handling had worsened, while replay images showed Norris experiencing understeer and running over the kerbs at turn 9.
There seemed to be an issue with the Red Bull mirrors, as Perez reported “losing his left mirror” just a few minutes before the end of the session.
Report in progress…
© 2024
Brazilian wins surfing world title
The Brazilian surfer, João Silva, made history by winning the world surfing title in an exciting competition held in Hawaii. At just 24 years old, João showed his talent and determination by facing the best surfers in the world and coming out victorious.
The competition was fierce, with challenging giant waves and a tight competition among the competitors. However, João Silva stood out with his daring maneuvers and unique style. He scored the highest points in the championship and secured his place at the top of the podium.
This victory is a milestone for Brazilian surfing, which is increasingly standing out on the world stage. João Silva is an example of overcoming obstacles and dedication, and his achievement inspires young surfers from across the country.
João Silva’s next challenge will be to defend his title next year. He is already preparing intensely and promises to continue surprising with his talent and skills on the waves.
Congratulations, João Silva, on this incredible achievement! Brazil is proud of you!
