@ValtteriBottas tops #JapaneseGP FP2 in another @MercedesAMGF1 1-2. #F1

Valtteri Bottas once again topped the time-sheets and ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton in another Mercedes 1-2 in FP2 at the Japanese GP in what could decide Sunday’s grid.

The Finn was preparing to start his first flyer on his qualifying simulation run before spinning his F1 W10 EQ Power+ racer through the kink that follows the final chicane.

Bottas continued but could only lap under 0.500 seconds down on Mercedes team-mate Hamilton, who set the benchmark on the initial qualifying simulations despite having his own effort interrupted by the former’s spin.

Hamilton narrowly improved from a 1:27.896 to a 1:27.885 on his second set of C3 red side-walled softer rubber, before Bottas moved to the top with a 1:27.785.

No one else in the field managed to lap quicker than 1:28’s.

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen split the Mercedes and Ferrari pairings, taking third and 0.281 off of Bottas’ benchmark time.

The result, along with the FIA’s statement that FP2 could potentially determine the grid for Sunday’s Japanese GP, means that Mercedes may be locking out the front row of the grid should the rescheduled qualifying session not take place on Sunday morning.

Ferrari opted to leave their second qualifying simulation runs at the closing stages of the afternoon session.

Charles Leclerc ended FP2 as the lead Ferrari driver in fourth place, with the Monegasque youngster less than a tenth off Verstappen’s effort that also relegated team-mate Sebastian Vettel to fifth.

Vettel was 0.591 seconds adrift of Bottas’ benchmark, while the second Red Bull of Alexander Albon managed to split the Ferrari duo at first before dropping to sixth place and 0.617 seconds off of the leading Finn.

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz was once again best of the rest in seventh place, lapping almost three tenths quicker than Racing Point’s eighth-placed Sergio Perez and six and a half off of Albon’s Honda-powered RB15.

Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly left his run late to get into the top ten, ending the day ninth and only 0.004 seconds quicker than McLaren’s Lando Norris who completed the top 10.

Alfa Romeo Racing’s Kimi Raikkonen finished in 11th and ahead of the second Toro Rosso of Daniil Kvyat who was 12th and Haas F1 Team’s 13th-placed Romain Grosjean.

The other Racing Point of Lance Stroll took 14th and in-front of Alfa Romeo Racing’s Antonio Giovinazzi who ended 15th and Haas F1 Team’s Kevin Magnussen who finished the afternoon 16th.

Renault endured a difficult session while continuing to test their front wing upgrade, with Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg in a low 17th and 18th.

In the battle of the two Mercedes-powered ROKiT Williams FW42 entries at the rear, it was Robert Kubica getting the better of team-mate George Russell by 0.155 seconds.

You can read the full Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix Free Practice 2 Results Classification at the link: https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2019/races/1016/japan/practice-2.html

You can catch up what happened in this morning’s Free Practice One session, F1 Newsbites as well as this weekend’s race preview at the link:

@ValtteriBottas leads @MercedesAMGF1 1-2 in #JapaneseGP FP1. #F1

#F1 Newsbites – #JapaneseGP edition.

#Formula1 Japanese Grand Prix 2019 Preview – #F1 #JapaneseGP