When the green light at the exit of the pit lane came on, there was hope that the on-track activity planned for the FP2 session at Suzuka would not be lacking. The rain that fell in the break between the two sessions was no longer a threat and the new draining asphalt seemed ready for the use of slicks.
The teams waited about ten minutes, then Lewis Hamilton took to the track with a set of dry tyres. Just enough time to complete the first flying lap and the rain began to wet the track again, especially in the first sector. The asphalt curiously proved to be too wet for the slicks and too dry for the intermediates, a condition which discouraged the teams from starting the work programme.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RB20
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
The only findings of the day therefore remain those from FP1, a session that should always be taken with a pinch of salt due to the dirty track, but it still provided some indications. The one-two Red Bull fully confirms the predictions of the day before, Ferrari (with Sainz) confirmed itself as first among the pursuers. “We had a good start – confirmed the leader of the FP1 session Verstappen – the general balance of the car was immediately good, always excellent news at the start of a race weekend. There are some things that I want to analyze together with the engineers, but I repeat, I'm satisfied, this should be a good track for us.”
Carlos Sainz confirmed himself behind the two Red Bulls. The winner of Melbourne was 0.216 seconds behind Verstappen, a gap made up almost exclusively in the third sector. In the feared 'snake' (from turn 2 to turn 7) Sainz lapped in the same partials as Verstappen, and was also faster than Perez.
“In the FP1 session we confirmed that we were closer to the Red Bulls than we expected – admitted Sainz – these are positive signs that confirm the progress made compared to five months ago. In FP1 you never know precisely what the fuel loads are, but last year on this track we were eight tenths from first place, being two tenths away today is a good starting point.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Leclerc was further behind, sixth behind the two Mercedes who appeared to buck the trend compared to the disappointing results in Melbourne. After the Australian round the team worked hard to try to understand the reasons for the instability in performance that has tormented Hamilton and Russell since Bahrain.
“It's encouraging to hear that the drivers are more satisfied with the feeling with the car – commented head of engineering Andrew Shovlin – the data tells us that we have put the tires in a better window”.
George Russell, Mercedes W15
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Lewis Hamilton went further: “For us today was the best FP1 of this first part of the season, in the last two years on this track we have struggled with a car that had an inconsistent balance, making it difficult to drive. Today I can say that we have a better base to start from, now we hope to be able to improve it.”
Oscar Piastri was among the few riders to take to the track in the afternoon, being the fastest at the end of the FP2 session thanks to a run on slicks in the final minutes. “I managed to complete a few laps – commented Piastri – but the conditions were not the best. The feeling isn't bad, but we'll see tomorrow.”
McLaren remains 'special observation' in view of qualifying, but it is not certain that the role of vice-Red Bull easily occupied last year by Norris and Piastri will be confirmed. Ferrari doesn't seem to be willing to get off the podium it reached in the first three races, and the very first data arriving from the Suzuka weekend seem to be going in this direction.
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