The Formula 1 circus arrived at the stunning Suzuka Circuit for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, delivering a first day of action packed with insights, although not all were necessarily encouraging. In general terms, much as expected, the technical and historically fascinating Honda-owned track highlighted the challenges posed by the new cars. This was partly due to a lack of aerodynamic downforce in the opening sector, but primarily because there are several sections where engine power is insufficient and braking points are far less aggressive than fans might hope, especially when approaching the iconic 130R corner, where drivers must decelerate by nearly 60 km/h.
As teams look ahead to the long break following the Japanese Grand Prix, with hopes of planned interventions to mitigate these weaknesses, we can focus on the on-track data, which provides a number of points of genuine interest.
McLaren finds engine instructions, with some caveats
Seeing Oscar Piastri at the top of the timing sheets immediately raises the question of whether the Woking-based team has finally understood how to maximize the potential of the Mercedes power unit. The data suggests that, at least on single-lap performance, the progress achieved by the engineers led by Andrea Stella is significant.
Looking closely at the numbers, the MCL40 displayed explosive power on the opening straight, with Piastri pulling a huge advantage over the rest of the field. Across the session, the papaya car showed the ability to exploit energy deployment efficiently, particularly on the section between the final chicane and Turn 1, albeit split into two parts at the start and end of the lap. Piastri’s gap over Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the leading Mercedes driver, at the exit of Turn 1-2 was approximately four-tenths, with Mercedes taking a more conservative approach throughout the session on the first straight. From the entry into the Snake section onwards, Antonelli started to close the gap, almost eliminating it by the tight hairpin. However, in the slower Turn 11 and the approach to the Spoon curve, Oscar Piastri extended the lead again, demonstrating excellent traction characteristics of his McLaren. The massive recovery along the long back straight was still insufficient for Antonelli to claim first position, as McLaren once again showed superior performance at the Triangle chicane, with Oscar Piastri crossing the line ahead thanks to a crucial tenth of a second gained in the final straight.
Overall, McLaren has made impressive strides in energy management and understanding of the Mercedes power unit, although it is utilized differently compared to the W17. Oscar Piastri appeared in excellent form, the best he has shown in some time, but technical difficulties have not magically disappeared in the McLaren garage. Lando Norris, the 2022 World Champion, had to sit out roughly half of the session due to significant issues with the power unit. The team’s overall stability seems somewhat compromised, particularly on race pace, which confirms that much of McLaren’s advantage stems from refined use of the Mercedes engine, especially in qualifying simulations.
Mercedes already dialed in on setup, optimizing energy deployment
Mercedes, on the other hand, started the weekend with a strong foundation, appearing to operate within its ideal setup window. Data from the Snake section shows Antonelli’s pace to be almost untouchable, supported by extremely high torque levels at critical points, including Turn 3 entry and the uphill Turn 7, all the way to the approach of the Spoon curve. The team also enjoys a clear advantage on the back straight, with top speeds reaching 331 km/h and braking points at the final chicane at 278 km/h, underscoring the usual benefits of their powertrain in high-speed clipping zones. However, at Brackley, Mercedes has not yet maximized energy deployment on the main straight, which could be a focus for qualifying performance later in the weekend.
Ferrari struggles: power deficit and balance issues
Conversely, Ferrari appears to have taken a step back compared to recent races. The SF-26 setup brought to Suzuka has not matched the performance of its rivals. The rear end of the car was unstable throughout the session, impacting performance even in chassis-heavy sections where the team had hoped to dominate. In the Snake section, Charles Leclerc’s pace is comparable to McLaren but clearly behind Mercedes, particularly in uphill Turn 7, where Mercedes makes its decisive move. In the mid-section of the track, Charles Leclerc closes in on Piastri at the hairpin, but from that point onwards the Ferrari shows significant limitations in power, with the Monegasque driver losing approximately half a second to Piastri along the subsequent pure power section.
Repeated laps reinforce the impression of a notable lack of propulsion from Ferrari’s power unit, compounded by a suboptimal baseline balance. This opened the gap to rivals to 7-8 tenths of a second. Additionally, the SF-26 seems overly aggressive on soft tyres, causing Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to struggle with overheating during single-lap runs, while medium and hard tyres offered more manageable performance in race pace simulations.
Despite these challenges, Ferrari still has room to improve through setup adjustments. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton aim to establish themselves as the second-fastest team on race pace, ahead of McLaren, even if single-lap competitiveness remains challenging. The session hints that McLaren may attempt to contest a front-row position against Mercedes, while Ferrari will need to find an improved setup in Free Practice 3 to regain momentum and overcome the McLaren duo.
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