Is back. If there were any doubts, following the Singapore GP, two free practice sessions were enough for Max Verstappen to set the record straight. The Dutchman also achieved the best performance in FP2 of the Japanese GP, finishing ahead of Charles Leclerc's Ferrari and Lando Norris's McLaren. A good Ferrari, which seems to be - at least on Friday - the second force on the track, also because the man in front seems to have more.
Max is back
Several changes at Red Bull. The Milton Keynes team brought a new bottom to the RB19, mounting it first on Perez's car and then on Verstappen's. Best performance for the two-time world champion who, unlike the first free practice session, also showed an excellent race pace, although not as dominant compared to the pace shown by his rivals. His teammate, however, is in more difficulty Perez only in ninth position, with about a second behind the man who is dominating this season.
Ferrari, the FP2 in Japan confirms the excellent performance. But watch out for McLaren
In home Ferrari the objective is to confirm – difficult in terms of the result – the good things seen in Singapore. Leclerc takes second place, while Sainz takes fourth. An excellent start for both pilots, with the SF-23 proving to have improved, thanks also to the new floor that the Maranello technicians fitted on both cars for FP2. The race pace times aren't the best, but Ferrari is there and can easily fight to confirm itself as the second force on the track. He will undoubtedly try to annoy McLaren with Norris which – as in first free practice session - closes Japan's FP2, positioning itself between the two reds, showing the excellent feeling with the MCL60. Also to be monitored Piastres which, with the updates seen in Singapore only on Norris' car, he finished eighth in the standings, behind Albon's Williams.
Mercedes and Aston, there is still work to do
A different story however at Mercedes. In FP1 the two star riders were the only ones not to use the soft tyre, which was used instead in FP2. Russell finishes in fifth position, while Hamilton is only fourteenth. Not a brilliant Friday for the seven-time world champion, who however made some setup changes a few minutes before the start of the session. Sixth, however, is Aston Martin with Alonso, while Stroll does not go beyond eleventh place.
Who struggles
The two AlphaTauri drivers struggle with the fifteenth position of Lawson and the eighteenth of the host Tsunoda, which anxiously awaits the announcement of its renewal. Difficulties also for the Alpine twelfth with Ocon and penultimate with Gasly, who following a block went into the wall at the end of the session. At the back of the grid Logan's Williams Sergeant. With these FP2s, the Friday of the Japanese GP ends here. See you tomorrow with qualifying, which will be brought forward from FP3 to 04.30, which will start at 08.00.
FP2 GP Japan, the results
1 Max Verstappen
2 Charles Leclerc
3 Lando Norris
4 Carlos Sainz
5George Russell
6Fernando Alonso
7 Alexander Albon
8 Oscar Plates
9 Sergio Perez
10 Valtteri Bottas
11 Lance Stroll
12 Esteban Ocon
13 Nico Hulkenberg
14 Lewis Hamilton
15 Liam Lawson
16 Guanyu Zhou
17Kevin Magnussen
18 Yuki Tsunoda
19 Pierre Gasly
20 Logan Sargeant
