The Japanese GP kicked off in FP1 with Lando Norris ahead of the pack, but the session was trouble-free. However, FP2 in Suzuka was chaotic, with four red flags thrown. They ranged from accidents to fires, putting all the teams on the back foot. The teams were unable to complete their long run program, leaving the race an unknown.
Despite the two McLarens being fastest on the soft tyre runs, many drivers were unable to complete their qualifying simulations due to two late red flags. Over half the session saw no track action due to incidents, meaning FP3 will be vital for teams to set up their cars optimally. What went wrong in FP2, leading to four separate red flags?
Jack Doohan and Fernando Alonso bring out red flags in Suzuka
Just eight minutes into the session, the red flag was thrown due to Jack Doohan heaving a heavy crash at turn 1. Doohan lost the rear of his car into turn 1, crashing his Alpine hard against the barriers. Jack didn’t run in the first session and lasted only four laps before heading into the tyre wall, damaging the chassis. Repairs to the barrier were also necessary and took up a lot of time.
The accident was at a part of the track which had been re-tarmacked. The car bottomed out on exit into the first corner. The reason for the accident was that the DRS wasn’t closed. Unlike at most tracks, the DRS has to be manually closed as there is no braking zone into turn 1.
A huge impact for Jack Doohan at Turn 1 😲
Doohan is OK and out of the car #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/E0eyamwiVj
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 4, 2025
Fernando Alonso, the most experienced driver on the grid, also brought out a red flag. The two-time world champion got on the grass just before Degner Curves, losing control and spinning off into the gravel. The car was beached, and a truck was needed to remove the stricken Aston Martin.
The Suzuka grass catches fire
Last season, the grass at the Chinese GP caught fire after sparks from the underfloors of the cars blew onto the track. This season, it occurred at the Japanese GP. Sparks from the planks under the cars blew onto the track on the dry grass, which caught fire. This happened on two occasions, causing two separate red flags.
Red flag deployed 🔴
A small grass fire beside the circuit is currently being extinguished#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/OomAusRYH5
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 4, 2025
This is a concern for the rest of the weekend. In April, there hasn’t been much rain, and the grass around the circuit is dry. With the cars so close to the ground in the ground effect era, they spark as the planks make contact with the road. This could prove an issue for the rest of the weekend.
McLaren shows strong pace in FP2 for the Japanese GP
McLaren had a strong session but were only able to complete qualifying simulation laps. This is an issue for the Papaya team as during FP1, McLaren struggled with front left graining. They were unable to work on the problem due to the lack of running time.
However, on the soft tyres, they were the class of the field. The pair were four-tenths ahead of third-placed Isack Hadjar. However, the times could be a little misleading. This is because most of the top teams had their soft runs disrupted by either traffic or the red flags. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen also had issues exiting the final chicane, costing them a couple of tenths. However, McLaren looks like the team to beat.
Mercedes looks like they could be the closest challenger to McLaren. They are currently the second fastest team and not far off McLaren’s pace in qualifying trim. McLaren’s graining problems could open the door to Mercedes, who look better on their tyres. With rain on the horizon, this race weekend might not a straightforward for McLaren.
