Hamilton overturns Vettel's time in Practice 2 in Japan

Mercedes's Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in Practice 2 at the Japan GP, overturning's Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel fastest lap in Practice 1.

Championship leader Hamilton was the fastest of the only five drivers who could take to the circuit in Suzuka, due to rain-hit conditions on the Asian track, with Force India's Esteban Ocon a surprise second just 0.799 seconds off the lead time.

Ocon's team-mate Sergio Perez was third fastest ahead of the Williams duo of Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll.

Downpours had prevented the drivers taking to the track for the first 45 minutes of the session, with most of the pack opting to sit out the session altogether when conditions did ease, instead opting to keep their powder dry for Qualifying. This decision was largely down to the fact that each driver is limited to four sets of dry tyres for the weekend. Fourteen of the drivers took to the track, with five timing.

Earlier, in Practice 1, Vettel edged out Hamilton, with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo in third. The second Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen was fourth fastest.

A time of 1:29.166s was enough for Vettel to set the early pace in Asia, with the aid of Pirelli’s supersoft tyres giving him an edge over Hamilton – who was two-tenths of a second slower. The top four as a quartet were only separated by less than half a second. 

Vettel’s flying lap came just after Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz crashed out of practice on Turn 11’s hairpin. Sainz let his back-left wheel touch the turf , which prompted the car to spin out sideways before being thrown into the tyre wall. 

Hamilton had held the fastest time prior to the Sainz crash, while Vettel had yet to time with the supersoft tyres, which ultimately gave him his advantage, as he set a new official lap record. A period of rain over the last five minutes prevented any new challenges to Vettel’s lead time.

Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas was fifth, with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull sixth. 

The Japanese Grand Prix is live on eir sport 1 this Sunday, with qualifying also live on Saturday.

Image: Getty/Mark Thomspon.

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