HIGHLIGHTS: Catch the FP1 action in Suzuka as Max Verstappen tops the timings

Max Verstappen looked to already have bounced back from his tough Singapore weekend by topping the timesheets in FP1 at Suzuka.

With Red Bull and Verstappen’s win streak coming to an end last time out, hopes were high among the constructors’ championship leaders that their return to form would come in Japan. On early indications that seems justified with Verstappen posting a time of 1m 31.647s – 0.626s faster than last week’s race winner Carlos Sainz in P2.

READ MORE: Verstappen comfortably heads Sainz and Norris in opening practice session in Japan

Lando Norris nabbed third right at the end of the session, while Sainz's team mate Charles Leclerc was in fourth.

Yuki Tsunoda also posted a brilliant time himself during the first practice session to find himself in fifth. If the AlphaTauri driver maintains that level of performance, then the home crowd will be more than happy.

To watch the highlights from the weekend’s first session on track, click on the video above.