Soaked FP2 sees Kvyat fastest

Although the rain eased off early on in the session, the Suzuka Circuit was still not quite ready for slick tyre running. Daniil Kvyat set the fastest time during the session ahead of the two Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. His team mate Daniel Ricciardo was 4th.

Sebastian Vettel was 5th and heading team mate Kimi Raikkonen, with the two Toro Rossos of Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen, who struggled with front locking on the intermediate tyres, just behind. Felipe Nasr and Pastor Maldonado completed the top 10.

Nico Hulkenberg got his first timed laps of the day in with 11th with his recently confirmed team mate Sergio Perez 14th. The two Manors and Lotuses also got their first laps in of the day, having sat out FP1.

Fernando Alonso was another driver who sat out the morning session, but his McLaren needed an engine change after FP1. The engine he changed to is a used one, therefore he will not receive a penalty. However, it did mean he could not get out on track before the rain picked up again in the latter stages of the session, which forced him onto the wet tyre when he did make it onto the circuit.

Valtteri Bottas was the only man not to set a lap in the session, as the team did not feel anything could be learned from driving in the wet and changing conditions.

With the rest of the weekend expected to be dry, all focus will be on FP3 as teams will try to fit as much of their programs as possible into the one hour session tomorrow morning.

Final classification

1. Daniil Kvyat – Red Bull – 1:48.77

2. Nico Rosberg – Mercedes – 1:48.300

3. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes – 1:48.853

4. Daniel Ricciardo – Red Bull – 1:49.097

5. Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari – 1:50.268

6. Kimi Raikkonen – Ferrari – 1:50.319

7. Carlos Sainz – Toro Rosso – 1:50.418

8. Max Verstappen – Toro Rosso – 1:50.542

9. Felipe Nasr – Sauber – 1:50.968

10. Pastor Maldonado – Lotus – 1:51.557

11. Nico Hulkenberg – Force India – 1:51.674

12. Jenson Button – McLaren – 1:51.861

13. Marcus Ericsson – Sauber – 1:51.934

14. Sergio Perez – Force India – 1:52.070

15. Romain Grosjean – Lotus – 1:52.534

16. Felipe Massa – Williams – 1:52.765

17. Fernando Alonso – McLaren – 1:55.239

18. Will Stevens – Manor – 1:58.059

19. Alexander Rossi – Manor – 1:59.419

20. Valtteri Bottas – Williams – no time

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