Max fourth in FP2: "Long runs look very good"

Published on 07 October 2016 by Stefan Meens

After P6 in the opening session of the Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen finished FP2 in fourth. Mercedes dominated with Nico Rosberg marginally quicker than team mate Lewis Hamilton. Kimi Raikkonen completed the top three with Max’ Red Bull Racing team mate Daniel Ricciardo in twelfth.

“We’re happy with today, especially the long runs look very good”, said Max to Verstappen.nl. “It’s difficult to rate my short run because a virtual safety car interrupted it and I had to return to the pits. But the tyres felt good and there wasn’t much of a difference between the medium and hard compounds.”

For the rest of the weekend, Max is confident. “This track suits us and you can already tell it does with the pace we’ve shown so far. It’s looking good.”

The second Friday session sees Kevin Magnussen out-brake himself into the gravel. but the Renault driver is able to continue the session. Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat also had a lucky escape after a 360 degree spin coming out of the last corner.

Meanwhile, Max and Daniel Ricciardo spend the opening part of the session on the harder tyre with the rest of field on softs.

Forty minutes into the session, Max heads out for his first run on the soft Pirellis. Due to a virtual safety car - Esteban Gutierrez has to park his car in the grass with technical issues - the youngster is unable to make the most of the faster compound.

In the end, Max is able to put a flying lap on softs on the board. His 1:33.061 is his fastest lap of the day and good enough for fourth place in FP2.

Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka - Friday 7 October

FREE PRACTICE 2 RESULTS

01  6 Nico Rosberg        Mercedes                    1:32.250           35
02 44 Lewis Hamilton      Mercedes                    1:32.322  +0.072s  35
03  7 Kimi Räikkönen      Ferrari                     1:32.573  +0.323s  26
04 33 Max Verstappen      Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:33.061  +0.811s  29
05  5 Sebastian Vettel    Ferrari                     1:33.103  +0.853s  34
06 11 Sergio Perez        Force India Mercedes        1:33.570  +1.320s  37
07 27 Nico Hulkenberg     Force India Mercedes        1:33.873  +1.623s  35
08 14 Fernando Alonso     McLaren Honda               1:33.985  +1.735s  37
09 77 Valtteri Bottas     Williams Mercedes           1:34.028  +1.778s  33
10 55 Carlos Sainz        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:34.086  +1.836s  33
11 19 Felipe Massa        Williams Mercedes           1:34.127  +1.877s  33
12  3 Daniel Ricciardo    Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:34.150  +1.900s  29
13  8 Romain Grosjean     Haas Ferrari                1:34.241  +1.991s  33
14 26 Daniil Kvyat        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:34.305  +2.055s  27
15 20 Kevin Magnussen     Renault                     1:34.339  +2.089s  36
16 22 Jenson Button       McLaren Honda               1:34.398  +2.148s  29
17 21 Esteban Gutierrez   Haas Ferrari                1:34.643  +2.393s  11
18 30 Jolyon Palmer       Renault                     1:34.760  +2.510s  40
19 12 Felipe Nasr         Sauber Ferrari              1:34.824  +2.574s  26
20 94 Pascal Wehrlein     MRT Mercedes                1:35.292  +3.042s  30
21 31 Esteban Ocon        MRT Mercedes                1:35.400  +3.150s  37
22  9 Marcus Ericsson     Sauber Ferrari              1:36.318  +4.068s  26

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