Max in P5 during third free practice in Japan

Published on 05 April 2025 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen finished in P5 during the third free practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix. At the Suzuka circuit, the initial focus for Max and the Oracle Red Bull Racing team was primarily on race pace, which meant fast lap times were not the priority early on. In the final phase of the session, Max switched to soft tyres and clocked a time of 1:28.497, which eventually placed him fifth. The McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were over half a second quicker than Verstappen, finishing in the top two spots, with George Russell in his Mercedes taking P3. The session, like yesterday, was twice interrupted due to patches of grass catching fire next to the track.

Under clear skies and with an ambient temperature of 13°C, the third and final free practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix got underway at the challenging Suzuka circuit. Jack Doohan can certainly attest to that challenge. Yesterday, the Australian crashed at high speed into the tyre barriers at Turn 1 after failing to close his DRS while turning in. Remarkably, Doohan was unharmed, though the same could not be said for his Alpine. Thanks to the hard work of the mechanics, Doohan was able to take part in today’s session and was the first to hit the track in FP3.

Verstappen followed shortly after, heading out in the striking white-and-red Red Bull livery, a tribute to engine partner Honda. Max set a 1:30.397 on his first flying lap. Soon after, the red flag came out as another patch of grass caught fire and had to be extinguished.

With 45 minutes remaining, the session resumed. Verstappen’s time was quickly beaten by the McLarens of Piastri and Norris, while the Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton also joined the battle for P1. Meanwhile, Verstappen ran a long stint at race pace on the hard compound tyres. After an eleven-lap run, the Dutchman returned to the pits.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, Verstappen headed out on the soft tyres for the first time. He moved up to P4 on the timesheets with a 1:28.685, before improving again to a 1:28.497, which placed him fifth. With five minutes to go, another red flag was waved as yet another grass fire broke out around the bone-dry Suzuka circuit.

The session was not resumed, leaving Verstappen in P5. The McLarens of Norris and Piastri topped the session, with George Russell close behind in P3. Charles Leclerc placed ahead of Verstappen in P4, while the other Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton finished sixth. Local hero Yuki Tsunoda ended the session in P9, during his first weekend for Red Bull Racing.

Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix will begin at 08:00 Dutch time.

Contest GP Japan: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing 2025 cap!

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Results third free practice Japan: