Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc delivered a candid assessment of his team’s performance following Friday’s practice sessions at the Japanese Grand Prix, admitting that rivals McLaren appear to be operating “on another planet” with their pace-setting form. As Formula 1 returned to the iconic Suzuka Circuit, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri dominated the day, topping both Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2, leaving Leclerc and Ferrari searching for answers.
The papaya-colored McLaren cars showcased their strength early in the weekend, with Norris setting the fastest time in FP1 at 1:28.5 over 24 laps, followed by Piastri eclipsing that mark in FP2 with a blistering 1:28.1—faster than last year’s pole position time. The McLaren duo finished the second session with a 1-2, four-tenths ahead of the next closest competitor, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar. Leclerc, meanwhile, ended FP1 in third, trailing Norris by four-tenths, but slipped to seventh in a disrupted FP2 session plagued by red flags.
Despite the gap, Leclerc remained optimistic about Ferrari’s progress, describing the day as “constructive” for the Scuderia. “I felt it was quite positive,” Leclerc said after the sessions. “I’ve tried so many things today, and for that, I think it was a very constructive day. We didn’t put everything together, but I feel like the performance is probably better than what we are seeing on the timesheets.” However, he tempered his optimism with a stark acknowledgment of McLaren’s superiority. “We need to be careful because McLaren seems to be on another planet,” he cautioned. “But I feel like I maybe have a bit more of an idea on how to maximize our potential, which is always a good thing.”
Friday’s running was far from straightforward, with FP2 interrupted by multiple red flags, including a heavy crash from Alpine’s Jack Doohan. The sporadic track time frustrated Leclerc, who struggled to string together a clean lap. “It was just frustrating because I wasn’t putting one lap on the board,” he explained. “Every time there was either traffic or a red flag, or another red flag again. But I think it was very constructive. We’ve made lots of changes, and it was a good day. I feel like I’ve learned a lot from this car today.”
Ferrari arrived in Japan looking to rebound from a challenging start to the 2025 season. After a double disqualification in China and a lackluster showing in Australia, the team sits fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, 61 points behind leaders McLaren. Leclerc’s teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season, echoed the sentiment of a team still finding its footing. Hamilton finished FP1 in fourth and FP2 in fourth as well, offering a positive take on his early impressions. “It’s been a really nice day,” Hamilton said. “This track is awesome, and the support for Ferrari here is incredible. The sessions went well—we got through all the running.”
McLaren’s dominance comes as no surprise after their victories in the opening two races of the season, with Norris and Piastri establishing themselves as the early benchmarks. Norris, speaking after FP2, expressed confidence in McLaren’s position. “I think we’re the team to beat,” he said, while identifying Mercedes as a potential threat. For Ferrari, the challenge is clear: closing the gap to McLaren will require more than setup tweaks, especially with a significant wind change expected to shake up conditions on Saturday.
Leclerc remains hopeful but realistic as Ferrari prepares for qualifying. “I’m definitely looking forward to tomorrow,” he said. “But with the huge change of wind, everything we’ve learned today might be completely the opposite. It’ll be a big change, especially on a track like this.” As the weekend progresses, Ferrari will need to unlock the full potential of their SF-25 car to challenge McLaren’s otherworldly pace. For now, Leclerc’s assessment paints a picture of a team still searching for answers against a formidable rival.