Alonso times it perfectly with best lap in very wet FP1 session at Suzuka

Fernando Alonso has topped the first free practice session of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend as the 41-year-old timed his quickest lap when the track conditions were at their best. He topped the timesheet by three-tenths. Carlos Sainz led the two Ferrari drivers in second and third place. World Championship leader Max Verstappen finished the session in sixth place. 

If the purpose of the extreme wet tyre was being questioned in Singapore last weekend, it got its fair share of usage in the first free practice session of the weekend. Conditions were frankly terrible for the drivers, but the track produced plenty of grip relatively speaking. Only Nicholas Latifi had a small moment sliding across the gravel trap in the early stages. 

The weather got worse in the final 20 minutes of the session. Many drivers, including Leclerc, had little moments on the circuit but managed to save it before bringing out the yellow flags. It was all about timing for the fastest lap of the 60-minute session which Alonso perfected. The Ferrari car showed good pace, and Verstappen impressed by setting his quickest lap almost as soon as he came out of the garage. 

After a poor weekend in Singapore with a double DNF and losing a lot of points in their battle with McLaren, Alpine will be pleased with the results. To support Alonso in P1, Esteban Ocon set the fourth fastest time of the session. Haas also impressed with two top ten times. Mercedes didn't set any quick times. The pit crew had to work hard on George Russell's car who had an oil leak. Lewis Hamilton recorded the 13th fastest time. Home favourite Yuki Tsunoda finished in 20th place. 

Wet, wet, wet

Aside from daylight hours, the conditions picked up almost exactly from how they were in Singapore last weekend. Teams and drivers were greeted with a very wet track at the start of the first free practice session. Though with FP2 being curtailed to a Pirelli tyre test and some rain on the forecast for Sunday, it provided teams with an important opportunity. Kevin Magnussen was the first driver to use this chance. 

Tsunoda then became the first home driver at a Japanese Grand Prix weekend since 2014, using the full wet tyres. Despite the volume of water, the circuit looked like it had a relatively high grip level compared to other circuits in the wet. Even with rooster tails, Stroll said the track was pretty dry. Charles Leclerc agreed and asked for the intermediate tyres 20 minutes into the session. The man from Monaco set the standard with the first timed lap of the session. 

The times continued to ramp up slowly. Verstappen, on his first flying lap of the weekend, made use of the intermediate tyres and raised the bar. The 2021 Champion only did four laps in the session. His time was bettered by others who left it slightly later and got better track conditions. Formula 1 action will return in Japan later with a rare 90-minute practice session. Pirelli will form the run plan, though the rain is expected to remain.