McLaren's Piastri Tops Japanese GP Practice, Norris Struggles

0:00On March 27th, McLaren put on a strong show in second practice at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend with Oscar Piaestry taking first place while. Lando Norris came in fourth after hydraulic problems. The team, fresh off back-to-back titles, hopes this boosts morale, but sees no shift in the overall Formula 1 order for the 2026 season. Earlier races have been tough under the new rules. Piaestry missed the season opener in Melbourne after a crash on the reconnaissance lap where Norris finished fifth. Both cars failed to start in Shanghai due to mechanical woes, leaving McLaren third in the championship with 18 points behind leader Mercedes, who has won every race and Ferrari. Team Racing Director Randy Singh noted they maximized the session despite Norris' issues, calling the pace similar to what they saw in Australia on Friday. The result felt like a bright spot after their shaky start. In first practice at Suzuki, Norris was third in Piaestry fourth with Mercedes locking out the top two spots.

1:02The team made some gains understanding the new power units but brought no upgrades this weekend. Officials expect Mercedes and Ferrari to pull ahead again in qualifying and the race, keeping the pecking order steady as McLaren builds for the long, hall. You've been listening to F1 News today, AI Power Team Coverage.