Jack Dan’s incident occurred during Free Practice 2, in one of the most dangerous corners on the calendar — Turn 1 at Suzuka.

As Dan approached the corner at blistering speed, he lost control of the car and slammed into the barriers.

The crash caused significant damage, with the car declared a total write-off. Thankfully, Dan was able to walk away uninjured, undergoing precautionary checks before being cleared by the medical team. While initial speculation surrounded a potential mechanical failure, the true cause of the crash has now been revealed — and it shocked even the most seasoned fans.

According to Alpine team principal Oliver Oaks, Dan had failed to manually close his DRS (Drag Reduction System) before entering Turn 1. On most circuits, the DRS closes automatically when braking, but Turn 1 at Suzuka is such a high-speed corner that drivers often do not brake — meaning the DRS must be closed manually. In Dan’s case, it remained open, compromising rear downforce and resulting in a complete loss of control. “It was a misjudgment of not closing the DRS into Turn 1,” Oaks confirmed. “It’s something to learn from, and I know Jack and the team will be ready for tomorrow.”

This revelation not only raises questions about Dan’s awareness but also highlights the razor-thin margins and unforgiving nature of Formula 1 at its fastest. One simple oversight was enough to destroy a car and almost sideline a driver, showing how critical attention to detail remains in this sport — even in practice.

While Dan’s crash dominated the early headlines, Lewis Hamilton’s name resurfaced just hours later, this time due to a stewards’ investigation. Hamilton, who was already under scrutiny following his and Charles Leclerc’s double disqualification in China due to technical infringements, found himself once again facing the FIA’s disciplinary arm.

The issue arose after Hamilton performed a practice start at an unauthorized location, specifically overtaking several cars in the fast lane while moving toward the designated practice start area. This action violated the race director’s event notes, prompting the stewards to issue an official warning to both Hamilton and the Ferrari team. The statement read: “Car 44 overtook several cars in the fast lane while traversing the working lane to the practice start area.” While no grid penalty was given, the warning adds to Hamilton’s recent string of compliance issues — a situation that surely won’t sit well with Ferrari, who only recently welcomed him into their ranks for the upcoming season.

Hamilton himself appeared unbothered during media interviews, choosing instead to focus on Ferrari’s performance throughout the day. He praised the Suzuka Circuit and its loyal fanbase, calling it “awesome” and noting the strong wind conditions that made driving through the S-Curves particularly thrilling. “It’s been a really nice day,” he told Sky Sports F1. “We got through all the program. We’re not the quickest at the moment, but I think it’s a good baseline.”

The seven-time world champion remains optimistic about Ferrari’s pace in Japan, though early indicators suggest that McLaren, particularly through the efforts of Lando Norris, may have the upper hand at this stage of the weekend. In Free Practice 1, Charles Leclerc posted the third-fastest time while Hamilton followed in fourth. However, due to disruptions in FP2 — largely caused by Dan’s crash — teams were unable to collect meaningful data, leaving predictions for the race wide open.

Despite Ferrari’s promising start and Hamilton’s enthusiasm, the shadow of recurring stewards’ visits continues to hover over the team. With the scrutiny on compliance more intense than ever, especially following the China disqualification, Ferrari must now walk a very fine line to avoid further penalties that could derail their campaign.

Meanwhile, fans are still reeling from Dan’s terrifying crash and the implications it could have for the rest of the weekend. As F1 continues its electrifying run through Asia, the combination of high-speed risks and strict regulatory oversight is making for an unpredictable, drama-filled season. With qualifying and race day still to come, all eyes are now on how the teams — particularly Ferrari and Alpine — will respond under pressure.

Whether it’s young talents like Jack Dan learning the hard way or veterans like Lewis Hamilton still battling the rulebook, Japan has once again proven why it remains one of the most thrilling stops on the Formula 1 calendar. And if today’s chaos is anything to go by, fans should buckle up — because the weekend is only just getting started.