FP2 Report from Suzuka: McLaren 1-2, Piastri Edges Out Norris. Ferrari Holds Steady, Hamilton Fourth and Leclerc Seventh. Verstappen Only Eighth
We’re live from Suzuka for Free Practice 2 of the 2025 Formula 1 season’s third Grand Prix in Japan. Following the opening rounds in Melbourne and Shanghai, McLaren remains the team to beat heading into this weekend. Red Bull features a notable change with local favorite Yuki Tsunoda making his debut, replacing Lawson—who has been moved back to Visa Cash App RB. Ferrari is under pressure to respond after a double DNF in China (click here for comments from Leclerc and Hamilton). Click here for the FP1 recap.
FP2 Results and Lap Times
- Oscar Piastri 1:28:114
- Lando Norris 1:28:163
- Isack Hadjar 1:28:518
- Lewis Hamilton 1:28:544
- Liam Lawson 1:28:559
- George Russell 1:28:567
- Charles Leclerc 1:28:586
- Max Verstappen 1:28:670
- Pierre Gasly 1:28:757
- Carlos Sainz 1:28:832
Live Commentary – FP2 at Suzuka
09:00 – That’s it for the session after a fourth red flag! Piastri finishes on top, with Norris just behind. Ferrari places fourth and seventh with Hamilton and Leclerc respectively. Hadjar impresses in third. Tsunoda ends up 18th, though he didn’t attempt a qualifying simulation
08:58 – Piastri flies to P1! The Australian beats Norris’ time by 49 thousandths, as Norris and Leclerc fail to improve. It’s a Papaya 1-2 at the top
08:54 – Green flag! We’re back underway for the final laps of FP2 at the Japanese Grand Prix
08:49 – Yet another red flag—the third of the session—this time due to fire residue on the grass at Suzuka.
08:47 – Lando Norris sets the benchmark for McLaren with a superb lap of 1:28.163. He leads a tightly packed field by three tenths, ahead of a surprising Hadjar, who edges Piastri by 25 thousandths. Piastri, in turn, is just 1 thousandth ahead of a strong Hamilton in fourth. Lawson takes fifth, followed by Russell, Leclerc, and Verstappen—all closely matched.
08:44 – Qualifying simulations are underway. Let’s see how the times evolve
08:41 – Green flag! The session resumes in Suzuka.
08:35 – Another RED FLAG! Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin is stuck in the gravel after a driver error. No contact with the barriers and Alonso is out of the car.
08:30 – The session resumes after a 20-minute stoppage
08:25 – The session is set to restart at 8:30 AM CET (3:30 PM local time). Early reports suggest Doohan’s crash may have been caused by a DRS failure. A heavy impact nonetheless.
08:11 – RED FLAG due to a violent crash involving Jack Doohan’s Alpine, which went off at Turn 1.
08:08 – Terrifying crash for Jack Doohan in the Alpine! The cause is still unclear, possibly a mechanical failure. Thankfully, the driver is uninjured.
08:05 – FP2 gets underway! Hamilton clocks the first benchmark on white compounds, quickly topped by Russell
Photos: Scuderia Ferrari HP, Oracle Red Bull Racing, BWT Alpine Formula One Team, Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team, McLaren
