Red Bull continues to look strong at Suzuka with Max Verstappen setting the fastest time in FP2 at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Dutchman took to the top of the timesheets for the second time on Friday, having also gone quickest in FP1, with a time of 1:30.688s, 0.320s clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in FP2.
Lando Norris split the two Ferraris with an impressive third place, with Sainz in fourth, 0.549s back from Verstappen’s time.
George Russell closed out the top five with Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon claiming sixth and seventh on the timesheets.
Oscar Piastri was eighth in the second of the McLarens, with Sergio Perez ninth in the second Red Bull, 1.022s slower than his teammate..
Valtteri Bottas completed the top 10 for Alfa Romeo.
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:30.688 | 19 | |||
| 2 |
 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:31.008 | 0.320 | 23 | ||
| 3 |
 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:31.152 | 0.464 | 22 | ||
| 4 |
 | Carlos Sainz Jr | Ferrari | 1:31.237 | 0.549 | 22 | ||
| 5 |
| George Russell | Mercedes | 1:31.328 | 0.640 | 22 | ||
| 6 |
| Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:31.492 | 0.804 | 22 | ||
| 7 |
 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:31.555 | 0.867 | 23 | ||
| 8 |
 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:31.662 | 0.974 | 22 | ||
| 9 |
 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 1:31.710 | 1.022 | 24 | ||
| 10 |
 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | 1:31.739 | 1.051 | 22 | ||
| 11 |
 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:31.771 | 1.083 | 22 | ||
| 12 |
 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1:31.794 | 1.106 | 22 | ||
| 13 |
 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | 1:31.797 | 1.109 | 24 | ||
| 14 |
| Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:31.829 | 1.141 | 21 | ||
| 15 |
 | Liam Lawson | RB | 1:32.141 | 1.453 | 23 | ||
| 16 |
 | Guanyu Zhou | Sauber | 1:32.165 | 1.477 | 16 | ||
| 17 |
 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 1:32.169 | 1.481 | 23 | ||
| 18 |
 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB | 1:32.178 | 1.490 | 26 | ||
| 19 |
| Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:32.179 | 1.491 | 22 | ||
| 20 |
 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | 1:32.320 | 1.632 | 25 |
