EL1 – Japan: Alonso ahead of the Ferraris in the rain

Who says rain, says Fernando Alonso obviously ! The Spaniard actually set the best time in the first free practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, this Friday noon at Suzuka. The Spaniard was indeed ahead of both Ferrari of 3/10th on a very wet track fifteen minutes from the end of a session marked by further showers in the last ten minutes. Esteban Ocon ranks 4th. 

As in Singapore last week, we had to wait a few minutes before seeing the first cars brave the rain. Kevin Magnussen was the first to clear the trail, before the local hero Yuki tsunoda also offers an installation tour to satisfy the courageous fans present this Friday. The first to establish a brand worthy of its name was Carlos Sainz, after twenty minutes of driving. 

Ocon in shape

The Spaniard, on wet tires, set the benchmark in 1'49"952, but was immediately beaten by Leclerc. The two men exchanged the best mark for ten minutes, with the best time at mid-session for Sainz in 1'47"758. Five minutes later, Nicholas latifi was the first to make a mistake, without any consequences however. In the slowest left turn of the circuit, the Canadian actually locked the wheels and took a break in the gravel before returning to the track. 

A minute later, on a track cleared of water channels although still wet, Max Verstappen was the first to drastically improve by switching to Intermediate tires. Known for his legendary start, the Batavian improved the Ferrari's best time by 3'6, before being immediately beaten by Esteban Ocon. The reigning world champion, seeking a second crown this weekend, completed only four short laps and stopped ten minutes into the session, when the rain returned. 

Schumacher at fault

Before that, Charles Leclerc had regained control of the session, then beaten by Carlos Sainz for 71 thousandths, then by Fernando Alonso, while the Monegasque gave himself a big scare by making a mistake between Degner 1 and 2, at the same place where he abandoned in 2018 with Sauber elsewhere. But despite a small passage through the gravel, Charles was able to get back on the track without problem.

Schumacher slides off at the end of the session

He was on his way back to the pit lane but crashed into the barriers #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/y8p1xfhcay

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 7, 2022

For Mick Schumacher, on the other hand, the consequences were more problematic. While the time had passed and he had just completed his departure procedure, the German made a mistake before the Degner turns, smashing the front of his VF-22. Embarrassed around his radio, the young man, who is trying to keep his seat at Haas, probably did not help his case.