Alpine's Fernando Alonso topped a rain impacted first practice at Suzuka, the Spaniard leading his Ferrari countryman Carlos Sainz in a session in which lap times proved largely irrelevant. Alonso took advantage of a brief respite of the rain to set the fastest lap on a set of intermediate tyres. The all-Spanish top-two was followed by Charles Leclerc and Esteban Ocon who completed a Ferrari-Alpine top four. Times to follow... Formula 1 returned to Suzuka after a three-absence and not a moment too soon for everyone who enjoys the legendary Japanese venue, but the bad news was a rain-drenched track on which the weekend's action kicked off. But the session started on time although few were...
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