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<strong>FP2:</strong> Bottas stays on top at Suzuka

FP2: Bottas stays on top at Suzuka

Published on 11 Oct 2019 08:32
2
By: Fergal Walsh

Valtteri Bottas has concluded practice from the Japanese Grand Prix on top of the timesheets, keeping his position at the top of the standings from this morning's session.

Bottas' fastest lap time was a 1:27.785, which was exactly one-tenth of a second ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, who was second fastest.

Should qualifying fail to take place on Sunday morning, Bottas will take pole position for the start of the race, as this session's classification will form the grid in an event that a proper qualifying session can't be held.

However, it wasn't plain sailing for the Finn, as with just over an hour left to run, he spun while entering the final corner to start a hot lap.

Max Verstappen was fourth fastest for Red Bull, heading the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel.

Both Ferrari drivers set their hot laps in the final minutes of the session compared to their rivals who opted for an earlier time slot.

Alexander Albon was sixth in the second Red Bull, just over sixth-tenths down on pace-setter Bottas.

As he did in the opening practice session, Carlos Sainz topped the midfield pack, boasting a three-tenths of a second gap over the nearest car, which in this case was Sergio Perez.

After sitting out the opening practice session to allow Naoki Yamamoto to drive the car, Pierre Gasly ended FP2 in ninth place, in front of Lando Norris who concluded the top ten.

Antonio Giovinazzi returned to the track in second after setting just four laps this morning before being hit with a car problem, and endured no major setbacks during the 90 minutes.

F1Grand Prix Japan - Free practice 2

Circuit Suzuka - 11 October 2019

Driver

Team

Time

Difference

#
1

Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes

1:27.785

33
2

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

1:27.885

+0.100

34
3

Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing

1:28.066

+0.281

24
4

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

1:28.141

+0.356

28
5

Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari

1:28.376

+0.591

37
6

Alexander Albon

Red Bull Racing

1:28.402

+0.617

34
7

Carlos Sainz jr

McLaren

1:29.051

+1.266

29
8

Sergio Perez

Racing Point

1:29.299

+1.514

28
9

Pierre Gasly

Toro Rosso

1:29.354

+1.569

34
10

Lando Norris

McLaren

1:29.358

+1.573

35
11

Kimi Räikkönen

Alfa Romeo Racing

1:29.477

+1.692

29
12

Daniil Kvyat

Toro Rosso

1:29.512

+1.727

35
13

Romain Grosjean

Haas F1

1:29.553

+1.768

28
14

Lance Stroll

Racing Point

1:29.597

+1.812

27
15

Antonio Giovinazzi

Alfa Romeo Racing

1:29.651

+1.866

33
16

Kevin Magnussen

Haas F1

1:29.749

+1.964

31
17

Daniel Ricciardo

Renault

1:29.859

+2.074

30
18

Nico Hülkenberg

Renault

1:30.334

+2.549

29
19

Robert Kubica

Williams

1:30.916

+3.131

35
20

George Russell

Williams

1:31.071

+3.286

36

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Replies (2)

f1fan0101

Posts: 1,804
worrying pace from ferrari
- + 0
- Oct 11 2019 - 15:33
- abhidbgt
  
  Posts: 283
  I feel Mercedes have made a step rather than Ferrari going backwards. Nonetheless the way it stands now Mercedes might wrap up constructor's championship this Sunday.
  + 0
  
  Oct 12 2019 - 05:39