Japanese GP FP2 results: full standings from second practice session at Suzuka

Japanese GP FP2 results: full standings from second practice session at Suzuka. Full results and classification from FP2 at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Oscar Piastri leads McLaren in FP2 at Japanese GP 2026

Oscar Piastri set the pace in the second free practice session for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, putting McLaren back at the top of the timesheets. The young Australian edged Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli by just 92 thousandths of a second, confirming McLaren’s strong start to the Suzuka weekend. Kimi managed to stay ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and McLaren’s Lando Norris, highlighting a tightly contested battle at the front.

Ferrari remains competitive, Leclerc and Hamilton in the mix

Ferrari showed consistent pace, with Charles Leclerc finishing fifth and Lewis Hamilton in sixth. The gap to the session leader was around seven-tenths of a second, suggesting the Scuderia are close but still chasing the top teams. Despite the challenging and twisty 5.8-kilometre Suzuka layout, both Ferrari drivers managed solid lap times, keeping the team firmly in contention for a strong qualifying position.

Top 12 drivers in FP2

1. Oscar Piastri
2. Andrea Kimi Antonelli
3. George Russell
4. Lando Norris
5. Charles Leclerc
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Nico Hulkenberg
8. Alex Albon
9. Oliver Bearman
10. Max Verstappen
11. Esteban Ocon
12. Liam Lawson

Other notable performances

Further down the order, Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, Isack Hadjar, and Franco Colapinto completed laps in challenging conditions, while veterans Valtteri Bottas and Fernando Alonso were still looking for rhythm. The session also saw Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll navigating the technical sections of the track, with the newcomers Arvid Lindblad and Gabriel Bortoleto gaining valuable track time in preparation for the race weekend.

FP2 times overview

For a full visual of the session’s times, see the image below:

Key insights from FP2

McLaren’s pace at Suzuka confirms that their aerodynamic balance and tire management are strong on technical tracks, with Piastri showing excellent consistency. Ferrari remain in striking distance, and their performance in FP2 indicates that both Leclerc and Hamilton have the potential to challenge the front runners. Red Bull will need to optimize setup and energy management to close the small gaps in the coming sessions.