In the lead-up to the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli clinched the fastest time during Free Practice 3 at the Suzuka Circuit. He recorded a time of 1m 29.362s, outpacing his colleague George Russell by nearly three-tenths of a second. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc trailed in third place, more than eight-tenths behind Antonelli.
Free Practice 3 Overview
Free Practice 3 took place on Saturday and was the final opportunity for teams to hone their setups before qualifying. Despite the hour-long session, many drivers were slow to hit the track, with most waiting until 15 minutes had passed. Lewis Hamilton initially set the benchmark using Pirelli’s soft tires, with Leclerc quickly improving on that time to 1m 31.018s.
Significant Events
- Kimi Antonelli first broke the 1m 31s barrier with a time of 1m 30.418s.
- Leclerc briefly held the fastest time at 1m 30.229s.
- Russell and Antonelli exchanged the fastest times multiple times; Antonelli ultimately set a remarkable 1m 29.362s.
Lando Norris faced difficulties due to ongoing technical problems, limiting his track time. His McLaren experienced an Energy Recovery System issue, forcing him to stay in the garage until just 25 minutes remained.
Final Standings
As the session concluded, the top finishers were as follows:
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1m 29.362s |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.3s |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.8s |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | – |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | – |
| 6 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +1.2s |
Completing the top ten were drivers from Audi and Red Bull, along with Pierre Gasly from Alpine. Notably, Alex Albon finished in P16, just ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz. The session highlighted the competitive nature of the teams as they prepared for the main event of the weekend.
