[1/2] Formula One F1 - Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan - September 23, 2023 Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the pits during practice REUTERS/Issei Kato Acquire Licensing RightsSUZUKA, Japan, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Red Bull's Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen completed a sweep of Japanese Grand Prix practice on Saturday with McLaren closest on the timesheets and emerging as the main challengers.
McLaren's Lando Norris was second-fastest, 0.240 off the pace, in the final session before qualifying with Australian team mate Oscar Piastri third.
Red Bull's Sergio Perez was fourth-fastest and a further half a second behind.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who looked Red Bull's closest challengers on Friday, were fifth and sixth, with the Mercedes pairing of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell seventh and eighth.
Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons:
Max Verstappen, Issei Kato, McLaren's Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Red Bull's Sergio Perez, Verstappen, Perez, Red Bull, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, Alfa Romeo's, Zhou, Alan Baldwin, William Mallard
Organizations:
Suzuka, McLaren, Singapore, Alfa, Thomson
Locations:
Suzuka, Japan, Singapore, Qatar, London