F1 2025 Japanese GP LIVE: Qualifying start time and practice results as Norris eyes pole position

Lawson was dropped after a torrid first two races of the season in Australia and China, with Yuki Tsunoda picked to replace him. Lawson drops back down to the junior team, Racing Bulls, while Tsunoda makes his Red Bull debut at his home race in Suzuka this weekend.

Yet Verstappen raised eyebrows last week when he liked an Instagram post by ex-F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, which stated Red Bull’s decision to drop Lawson was “closer to bullying or a panic move.”

Verstappen, who is eyeing a fifth straight world championship this year, refused to elaborate further on his opinion on the early-season driver swap – other than to confirm that his Instagram like was “not a mistake.”

“I’ve been approached by a few teams since Abu Dhabi. The season has started, so a few things will open up in the coming months,” Perez said.

“I saw something asking whether I was losing faith in the team which is complete rubbish,” Hamilton said in Japan.

“I have absolute 100 per cent faith in this team.”

7. Aston Martin – 10 points

9. Racing Bulls – 3 points

“We’re working in changing my driving style for this kind of circuit and asphalt. And changing the car as well, to adapt it in my direction and paying attention to what worked in Bahrain.

“With these experiences and theories, we’ll face Suzuka with excitement and motivation to see if we can take that step forward.”

Ferrari will be looking to bounce back at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, round three of the 2025 season, but 1997 F1 world champion Villeneuve believes the sprint win puts Hamilton in a “privileged” position within the Italian team.

“Lewis, having won a race, I’m not sure it’s very good for the relationship [with Leclerc],” Villeneuve said.

“We are not that far ahead but I think it’s because we literally are the only team that has two good drivers at the minute,” Norris said in Japan.

“That’s the big difference, you know, if one of us was doing a lot worse, or one of us was not as strong…

“I think just the fact we have two good drivers is obviously making the biggest difference.”

“First of all, I am OK after the incident.

“It was a heavy one, something that caught me by surprise, and I will learn from it. I know the team has a lot of work ahead to repair the car going into tomorrow, so thanks in advance to them for their efforts.

“My focus is on tomorrow where we will have Free Practice 3 to get ready for Qualifying.”