F1: Verstappen stays on top in Japanese GP Practice 2

Red Bull Honda World Champion Max Verstappen stayed fastest in the 2nd practice session for the 2023 Japanese GP at Suzuka on Friday afternoon.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

After easily topping the morning practice session, Verstappen was one of the first drivers to switch to the soft Pirelli tires, producing an initial benchmark of 1m31.377s.

Following fast runs from Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc to topple the Dutchman from the top spot, Verstappen rejoined the Suzuka track on softs to pump in a 1m30.688s lap and move comfortably clear of the McLaren and Ferrari drivers.

Leclerc wound up 0.320s adrift and Norris 0.464s back, with Carlos Sainz in the 2nd Ferrari 0.549s behind Verstappen.

George Russell rounded out the top-5 for Mercedes, 0.640s behind, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton was sandbagging down in 14th.

Late in the session, Pierre Gasly wadded up his Alpine against the Turn 9 wall.  He was uninjured.

American Logan Sargeant was again dead last, while his teammate Alex Albon was up in 7th position, proving it’s not the car Sargeant suffers with, but simply lack of raw speed.

Japanese GP Practice 2 Results