03/10/2014
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second session the air temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature is 44 degrees. Though Typhoon Phanfone continues on its destructive journey, at present it is bright and sunny here.
Nico Rosberg headed Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in this morning's session, with Fernando Alonso the only driver to get anywhere near the Silver Arrows duo, the nature of the Suzuka circuit perfectly suited to the F1 W05.
A number of drivers were unhappy with the lack of grip offered by the hard tyres, and there were moments aplenty, particularly at Spoon, the Degners and the chicane.
No mistakes from teenage sensation Max Verstappen however, who was twelfth quickest before suffering an engine failure.
Problems also for Pastor Maldonado as the Lotus driver becomes the second driver to fall foul of the new power unit regulations and picks up a ten-place grid penalty as a result.
With hards the order of the day this morning, this afternoon the option (medium) rubber should make an appearance even if it appears that full-wets will be the norm on Sunday.
Verstappen's engine failure spell even more bad news for Jean-Eric Vergne who is unlikely to get much running this afternoon as the team is still changing the power unit on his car.
The lights go green and Chilton is first out, followed by Grosjean.
As more and more drivers pour on to the track, Chilton posts 49.287 but this is almost instantly beaten by Grosjean who crosses the line at 38.440.
Kobayashi, who was replaced by Roberto Merhi in FP1 goes second (42.760) but moments later goes off into the barriers in the Essex. Hugely disappointing for Kamui, his fans and the team.
Replay shows the Japanese a mere passenger as the rear end of the car snapped out after he appeared to carry too much peed into the complex.
Meanwhile, Magnussen has gone quickest (37.278), ahead of Kvyat, Button and Grosjean.
Button complains of problems with his DRS, the Briton not getting the 'beeps' to warn him when to activate the device.
Ouch, Maldonado takes a pounding as he encounters the unforgiving Suzuka kerbs. Elsewhere, a big lock-up for Magnussen at the hairpin.
His team having worked miracles to get him out on track, Vergne grinds to a halt at the same spot where Verstappen suffered his failure in FP1. "I have no power," he moans. That means that the two drivers who missed FP1 are already out of FP2.
A 37.186 sees Ricciardo go quickest, as Kvyat goes third ahead of Button.
It's all over for Ricciardo who is off and in the barriers at T18, the final corner. The Australian was about to begin a flying lap when he got out of shape, locked-up and went into the barriers. His teammate, who was running close behind, asks; "is Daniel OK?" "Yes, he's fine," comes the reply.
Bottas improves to third with a 37.286, with teammate Massa posting 37.985 to go fifth moments later.
For several minutes the session is yellow flagged, thereby compromising running however, eventually the session is red-flagged in order that the Red Bull can be safely removed.
As the car is extricated from the gravel, with one hour of the session remaining, the order is; Ricciardo, Magnussen, Bottas, Kvyat, Massa, Button, Alonso, Grosjean, Gutierrez and Sutil. Neither Force India driver has posted a time, though Hulkenberg has completed 4 laps.
After around seven minutes the session resumes, the two Mercedes side-by-side at the end of the pitlane. Vettel joins them.
Hamilton goes quickest with a 35.432, teammate Rosberg posting 36.865 moments later. Replay shows a lock-up for Rosberg in T11 before he subsequently runs wide.
There's another car in the barriers, this time its Gutierrez, on options, who has gone off at Spoon. It's unclear why exactly he went off but it was at a fair rate of knots.
Another replay shows Grosjean lucky to avoid a big off, the Frenchman thankful for the generous run off at T1.
Just before 'half-time', Raikkonen is one of the first to switch to the option (medium) rubber, the Finn subsequently splitting the Mercedes duo with a 36.529.
A mighty twitch for Hamilton as he exits Degner 2, the Briton, who had just switched to options, doing well to keep it under control.
Bottas (options) goes second with a 36.279 as Rosberg also swaps to the softer rubber.
Hamilton bangs in a 35.078 to go quickest by 1.201s.
Rosberg begins his first flying lap on the softer rubber. He posts a PB in S1 but subsequently goes quickest in S2. At the line, following a lock-up at the chicane, its 35.318, 0.240s off his teammate's pace.
Magnussen pulls up a piece of the artificial grass from the side of the track at Spoon.
As ever, attention now focusses on Sunday as drivers concentrate on longer runs.
As the sky darkens in the distance, Rosberg is warned of possible rain at the end of the session.
Sterling work by the Toro Rosso crew (again) sees Vergne back on track.
With 26:00 remaining, Perez is finally on track his team seemingly having resolved the problem... whatever it might have been.
On his first flying lap the Mexican, on hards, posts 37.786 to go fifteenth, just 0.2s off the pace of his teammate.
In the Ferrari garage it looks as if Raikkonen is about to be given a new rear wing. The Finn is currently sixth (36.529).
Perez reports "drizzle" at T11.
Vettel makes full use of the kerbs and artificial grass at Spoon, as the Mercedes duo look well matched for pace on their long runs.
New rear wing or not, Raikkonen runs perilously wide in 130R.
Rosberg is advised that it looks as though the rain will hold off and that he therefore has a further six laps remaining.
A worrying puff of smoke at Spoon for Vergne before he grinds to a halt shortly after. As he jumps from the car the session is red-flagged.
On board footage suggests an electrics issue, the dashboard readout going blank when Vergne makes an adjustment.
The session ends under red flags with Hamilton quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Bottas, Button, Vettel, Raikkonen, Alonso, Magnussen, Kvyat and Ricciardo.
Vergne is eleventh, ahead of Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Massa, Perez, Maldonado, Sutil, Gutierrez, Ericsson, Bianchi, Chilton and Kobayashi.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.