2019 Japanese GP, Ferrari second practice report: Charles P4, Sebastian P5. Ferrari second practice report.

Mercedes have completed a Friday practice one-two double, as Valtteri Bottas tops his second session of the day in Japan. If qualifying is cancelled on Sunday, Bottas will start the Japanese Grand Prix from pole position with Lewis Hamilton also on the front-row.

Max Verstappen rounded out the top three in the session which featured the traditional long-runs in preparation for the race and some qualifying simulations towards the end of the session.

Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc finished ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel as the Italian side struggled to trouble either Aston Martin Red Bull Racing or Mercedes on Friday. They attempted for a hot lap towards the end of the session, but traffic prevented them from toppling the leaders.

As soon as the FIA confirmed results from the FP2 session might be used as the starting grid (should qualifying on a Sunday be unable to run), extra emphasis and focus was applied. Sebastian Vettel emerged early from the garage to set the first fastest lap while Leclerc was left parked as Ferrari mechanics dashed around to fix a small issue with his car. Vettel’s tenure at the top of the timesheets didn’t last long as Bottas was quick to flex his muscles to claim back his P1 he achieved in FP1.

2019 FORMULA 1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX – FREE PRACTICE 2 RESULTS

1 Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport 1m27.785s
2 Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport + 0.100s
3 Max Verstappen NED Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda + 0.281s
4 Charles Leclerc MON Scuderia Ferrari + 0.356s
5 Sebastian Vettel GER Scuderia Ferrari + 0.591s
6 Alexander Albon THA Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda + 0.617s
7 Carlos Sainz ESP McLaren F1 Team + 1.266s
8 Sergio Perez MEX SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team + 1.514s
9 Pierre Gasly FRA Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda + 1.569s
10 Lando Norris GBR McLaren F1 Team + 1.573s
11 Kimi Raikkonen FIN Alfa Romeo Racing + 1.692s
12 Daniil Kvyat RUS Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda + 1.727s
13 Romain Grosjean FRA Haas F1 Team + 1.768s
14 Lance Stroll CAN SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team + 1.812s
15 Antonio Giovinazzi ITA Alfa Romeo Racing + 1.866s
16 Kevin Magnussen DEN Haas F1 Team + 1.964s
17 Daniel Ricciardo AUS Renault F1 Team + 2.074s
18 Nico Hulkenberg GER Renault F1 Team + 2.549s
19 Robert Kubica POL ROKiT Williams Racing + 3.131s
20 George Russell GBR ROKiT Williams Racing + 3.286s