Rainswept FP2, Max "happy with car"

Published on 25 September 2015 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen clocked the eighth fastest lap in free practice 2, despite lapping the Suzuka track only five times before the rain returned. Daniil Kvyat set the fasest time with the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton occupying second and third.

”Because of the rain we haven’t had a lot of track time. We only have a limited amount of tyres we can use over the weekend. So with a chance of more rain this weekend, you only want to go out at the right moments”, explains Max to Verstappen.nl. “Even though I didn’t do that many laps, I've learned a lot. I'm happy with the car, it felt good. As usual, we're quick in the rain. I love those circumstances." 

Although it does not rain at the start of FP2, the track is still wet due to the earlier downpour. The results is that most drivers bolt on the intermediate tyres on their reconnaissance of the Suzuka circuit. Max remains in the Toro Rosso pit box with his mechanics attempting to locate a small screw lost under the body work.

Thirty minutes in, Max leaves the pits on inters for his first run. On the radio he tells the team “the car has a lot of understeer”, explaining his trip across the astro turf at the final chicane. The Dutch youngster is not the only one fighting the car. Pastor Maldonado finds the grass, Sebastian Vettel the run-off area, followed by Daniel Ricciardo missing a braking point. Meanwhile, Max has clocked five laps of which a 1:50.542 is his fastest.

Halfway into the session the rain is back leading the track conditions to deteriorate. All the teams are cautious and initially all drivers are in the pits before Marcus Ericsson, Fernando Alonos, and the two Mercedes decide to venture out on the wet weather Pirellis.

In the final fifteen minutes, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez and Kimi Raikkonen also head out on the wet weather tyres. Both Toro Rosso's opt not to run on full wets meaning Carlos Sainz finishes the session in seventh with six laps on the clock and Max ending FP2 in eighth having lapped Suzuka five times.

Max: “I hope that the last free practice session on Saturday will be dry, especially going into qualifying. A dry track on a challenging track like this is the most enjoyable for us drivers.”

Suzuka – Japanese Grand Prix – Friday 25 September 2015

RESULTS FREE PRACTICE 2
 P  No Driver             Team          Time       Gap        Laps 
 1  26 Daniil Kvyat       Red Bull      1:48.277              6 
 2   6 Nico Rosberg       Mercedes      1:48.300   +0.023s    8 
 3  44 Lewis Hamilton     Mercedes      1:48.853   +0.576s    8 
 4   3 Daniel Ricciardo   Red Bull      1:49.097   +0.820s   10 
 5   5 Sebastian Vettel   Ferrari       1:50.268   +1.991s   19 
 6   7 Kimi Räikkönen     Ferrari       1:50.319   +2.042s   16 
 7  55 Carlos Sainz       Toro Rosso    1:50.418   +2.141s    6 
 8  33 Max Verstappen     Toro Rosso    1:50.542   +2.265s    5 
 9  12 Felipe Nasr        Sauber        1:50.968   +2.691s   10 
10  13 Pastor Maldonado   Lotus         1:51.557   +3.280s    7 
11  27 Nico Hulkenberg    Force India   1:51.674   +3.397s   11 
12  22 Jenson Button      McLaren       1:51.861   +3.584s    9 
13   9 Marcus Ericsson    Sauber        1:51.934   +3.657s   12 
14  11 Sergio Perez       Force India   1:52.070   +3.793s    8 
15   8 Romain Grosjean    Lotus         1:52.534   +4.257s    6 
16  19 Felipe Massa       Williams      1:52.765   +4.488s    6 
17  14 Fernando Alonso    McLaren       1:55.239   +6.962s   10 
18  28 Will Stevens       Marussia      1:58.059   +9.782s    6 
19  53 Alexander Rossi    Marussia      1:59.419   +11.142s   7

On Twitter and Facebook we'll keep you updated throughout the weekend followed by a full report on Verstappen.nl at the end of the day’s action.

You can find the schedule for the Japanese Grand Prix here.

Click here to participate in a contest for the Japanese GP and win Verstappen-goodies!