SUZUKA, Japan, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Championship leader Lando Norris set the pace in the first practice for the 2025 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix here on Friday.

The McLaren driver topped the timesheets with a benchmark of 1:28.549, despite a trip through the gravel earlier in the session as he complained of tyre graining on the newly-resurfaced Suzuka Circuit.

While Norris may have set the early pace, all eyes at Suzuka are glued to the progress of Yuki Tsunoda, here driving a Red Bull in a Grand Prix weekend for the first time since swapping his Racing Bulls seat with Liam Lawson.

The Japanese ended the session in an encouraging sixth place, just one place and 0.1s shy of teammate Max Verstappen, against whom Tsunoda's performance will likely be measured.

Behind Norris, George Russell was second for Mercedes, ahead of the twin Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, with the Briton complaining of understeer on his SF-25.

Hamilton was not the only driver seemingly suffering handling issues, with Williams' Alex Albon and the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli both locking up and running wide onto the gravel at the hairpin.

In addition to Tsunoda, local interest at Suzuka was further piqued by the appearance of 31-year-old Ryo Hirakawa. The Japanese, who usually races for Toyota in the World Endurance Championship, took over Jack Doohan's Alpine for the morning, and ended a promising session in 12th place, two slots ahead of teammate and regular driver Pierre Gasly. Enditem

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