Oscar Piastri tops second practice at Japanese Grand Prix

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has topped the timing boards in Free Practice 2, pipping Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by a tenth at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Feature image credit: Pirelli

The young Australian driver, Piastri, has taken the fastest lap away from the Mercedes by going fastest in the second hour of practice at the Japanese Suzuka Circuit. 

Piastri topped the timing boards with a 1m 30.133s, beating Antonelli by 0.092 seconds as Russell rounded out the top three, two tenths behind. 

When the session started, it was once more a healthy mix of the harder compounds. Those who used the hardest compound in FP1 started their FP2 on the mediums, and vice versa. 

The only outlier was Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who had missed FP1 after being replaced by Jak Crawford. The two-time world champion went out with the red-walled soft compound tyres attached. 

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There was an issue just after the 10-minute mark, with Williams’ Alexander Albon, who was stopped out on track at turn two. However, the red flag was not waved as the Thai driver managed to get going once more and make his way back to the garage. 

Both Racing Bull’s Arvid Lindblad and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto failed to set a lap time on the board in second practice. 

Bortoleto sat inside the garage for the majority of the session with engine trouble on his R26. He finally managed to get out onto the Suzuka circuit with 12 minutes on the clock, going 16th overall. 

On the other hand, Lindblad was able to get out at the beginning of the session, but the Briton was forced to pit more with gearbox issues. He failed to come out for the rest of the session.

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So, who finished where in FP2?

1. Oscar Piastri, McLaren – 1m 30.133s
2. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes +0.092s
3. George Russell, Mercedes +0.205s
4. Lando Norris, McLaren +0.516s
5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +0.713s
6. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari +0.847s
7. Nico Hulkenberg, Audi +1.308s
8. Alexander Albon, Williams +1.363s
9. Oliver Bearman, Haas +1.365s
10. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing +1.376s
11. Esteban Ocon, Haas +1.399s
12. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls +1.457s
13. Carlos Sainz, Williams +1.475s
14. Pierre Gasly, Alpine +1.601s
15. Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing +1.626s
16. Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi +1.8s
17. Franco Colapinto, Alpine +2.305s
18. Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac +2.482s
19. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +3.463s
20. Sergio Perez, Cadillac +3.556s
21. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin +3.818s
22. Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls – No time set

Read more Formula 1 here:

• George Russell pips Kimi Antonelli in Japanese GP FP1
• Japan Grand Prix Preview: Mercedes look to extend dominance in Suzuka
• Mercedes reveals new ‘livery’ for Japanese GP
• Progress at Aston Martin despite a difficult start F1 season
• Haas F1 reveal special Japanese Grand Prix livery
• Jak Crawford to drive Aston Martin in Japanese GP FP1

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.