In the Italian night, the Formula 1 it's gone down on track at Suzuka for the first time this weekend during Free Practice 1. This first session dominated by Max Verstappen's Red Bull, was interrupted by a off track by Logan Sargeant, who inherited the damaged frame of his teammate. The situation doesn't seem to be the best at Williams, already in difficulty in Melbourne after Alex Albon's accident which forced the English team to make a drastic decision due to the lack of a third chassis: to let only Albon race.
During the second session this weekend Daniel Ricciardo will be back on track. The Honey Badger he left – during FP1- the seat of his Visa Cash App RB to the young driver of the Red Bull Academy, Ayumu Iwasa. It's now time for the 20 drivers on the grid to get their wheels back on the asphalt for the Free Practice 2 on the Suzuka circuit.
Rain in Suzuka: few cars on track at the start of Free Practice 2
The latest forecasts they had averted one can pioggia during Free Practice 2 at Suzuka, but the weather is unpredictable and the rain came anyway. So pay attention to the race, because although sunshine is forecast, weather conditions can change quickly.
Il first to take to the track is Lewis Hamilton with a yellow tyre, however, he was soon called to the pits due to the increase in rain, especially in the first sector. The young Australian takes risks Oscar piastri, which rides for the first time in this 2024 season the intermediate rubber, but he also returns to the pits because the asphalt is not wet enough to run on this compound. However, the two Racing Bulls drivers remain out, following a dry line.
He's the hero of the house, Yuki tsunoda, to close the first half timed session in 1.42:304. It is difficult for teams to choose the tire to mount on their single-seaters, with the first sector too wet for the slick and a third sector too dry for an intermediate tyre.
All eyes on FP3
These conditions put in difficulties all those teams that arrived at Suzuka with new updates and they do not have the possibility to test the effectiveness. Logan Sargeant is lucky in his misfortune and was unable to take part in this second session of the day after the accident, but there are many riders keeping him company.
A 20 minutes from the end of the session Free Practice 2 at Suzuka there are still many pilots left farm in the garage, including the two of the Red Bull and Ferrari. The Maranello team will further test the innovations made to the single-seater during Free Practice 3, if the weather permits. The important news on the SF-24 but they will arrivebetween the Miami weekend and the Imola weekend.
In the last few minutes remaining on the clock, they take to the track Hamilton, Leclerc and Sainz who only have one lap available to test the race pace. All postponed Free Trials 3 which will be held at 04:30 Italian!
