As soon as each driver had bought laps in on Pirelli’s red-marked rubber, it was championship chief Norris who topped the timesheets with a benchmark of 1m 28.549s round {a partially} resurfaced and up to date monitor, adopted carefully by Russell and Leclerc.
Norris’ effort, which got here barely later within the session than these round him, and adopted a visit onto the grass and gravel exiting the ultimate chicane, saved him within the P1 spot over the aforementioned Mercedes and Ferrari drivers by means of to the chequered flag.
AS IT HAPPENED: Comply with all of the motion from first follow for the Japanese Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton backed up staff mate Leclerc in fourth, from the Pink Bulls of Verstappen and Tsunoda, who remained carefully matched, whereas Fernando Alonso put his Aston Martin in an encouraging seventh over Racing Bulls racer Isack Hadjar.
Kimi Antonelli wound up ninth within the sister Mercedes, having survived a go to to the gravel on the Flip 11 hairpin late on, with Williams pair Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon in P10 and P11 respectively – the latter doing the identical as Antonelli earlier within the session.
