Max Verstappen is ‘lacking’ one thing ‘you need’ at the Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull have ‘a lot of work’

McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri set the pace on the first day of practice for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix as Max Verstappen admits he ‘lacks’ in a key area.

The Woking outfit have continued their early dominance to the 2025 F1 season at Suzuka as Norris topped FP1 before Piastri led the way in FP2. Verstappen could only manage the fifth-fastest lap in the first session with a 0.516-second deficit that grew to 0.556s for P8 in FP2.

Norris kicked off the Japanese GP weekend with a 1:28.549 lap of Suzuka to lead Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.163s. Multiple red flags interrupted the second session as Jack Doohan crashed at 185mph in FP2 at Suzuka, but Piastri penned a 1:28.114 to lead Norris by 0.049s.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is ‘lacking’ confidence after practice for the Japanese GP

Fernando Alonso beaching his Aston Martin in the gravel through the Degner Curves before the grass which lines Suzuka caught fire twice held Verstappen of Red Bull back to only nine laps in FP2. Drivers who completed the full 60-minute session would do just nine to 14 laps.

While Verstappen accepts all drivers are in the same boat given the stop-start nature of FP2 on Friday, the 27-year-old feels Red Bull have ‘a lot of work’ to close their gap to McLaren et al before qualifying for the Japanese GP. He also feels the Dutchman is ‘lacking’ confidence.

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Confidence is one area that Verstappen believes is crucial to succeed at Suzuka, a circuit he has won at in each of the previous three seasons. The Honda-owned circuit presents a great challenge, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli finding Suzuka’s Esses ‘scary’ on Mercedes’ simulator.

“It wasn’t an easy day,” Verstappen conceded, via quotes by Speedweek. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t complete our program because of the red flags, but that was the case for everyone.

“Nevertheless, we were able to try out a lot with the car. It’s really tricky to put together a good lap here. You need a lot of confidence, and that’s currently lacking. So, we still have a lot of work ahead of us.”

Liam Lawson outpaces Max Verstappen in FP2 at Suzuka after his demotion to Racing Bulls

Verstappen struggling to feel confident in Red Bull’s car during practice for the Japanese GP this Friday even saw Liam Lawson lap Suzuka faster than the four-time defending champion in FP2. The 23-year-old finished the second session in P5 after his demotion to Racing Bulls.

It also marks a continuation of the Dutchman’s problems with the RB21 as Verstappen rued the inconsistent balance of Red Bull’s car at the Chinese Grand Prix. Also, Verstappen thinks Red Bull owed Lawson more time to adapt to the RB21 after demoting him after two events.

Yuki Tsunoda also finished FP2 in just P18 – only Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Doohan of Alpine were slower – on his debut for Red Bull on home soil. Tsunoda has replaced Lawson at Red Bull but could only manage a 1:30.625 lap in FP2, a whopping 1.955s off Verstappen.

Red Bull’s latest recruit was closer to the Dutchman in FP1 when he came P6 with a 0.107s deficit to Verstappen. But the team from Milton Keynes will desperately want to slash their margin to McLaren come Saturday as Norris and Piastri seem set to scrap for pole position.