George Russell headed a Mercedes 1-2 as wet weather continued to affect an extended Formula 1 practice day at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The second session took place across 90 minutes, rather than the usual 60, due to a planned Pirelli tyre test.
But this was called off, and rescheduled for Mexico City, due to the unsettled weather conditions – though the session remained of extended duration.
As per the opening session rain continued to fall at varying intensity throughout the course of track activity, meaning slick tyres were not used.
Russell posted a time of 1:41.935s on Intermediate tyres, leaving him 0.235s ahead of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, as Formula 1 ended a three-year hiatus from the figure-of-eight Suzuka circuit.
Red Bull Racing wound up third and fourth respectively, with Max Verstappen ahead of Sergio Perez, though both were eight tenths down on Russell’s benchmark.
Kevin Magnussen put in a late lap to surge up to fifth in the sole Haas, with Mick Schumacher benched from the session after his FP1 accident.
Haas had to change his chassis, due to the damage sustained, ruling him out of the extended action.
Carlos Sainz was sixth for Ferrari while team-mate Charles Leclerc finished further back in 11th.
FP1 pacesetter Fernando Alonso was seventh, with team-mate Esteban Ocon ninth, while Alfa Romeo had a productive outing as Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu both finished inside the top 10.
Williams had an encouraging session, finishing just outside of the top 10, despite a bizarre moment for the departing Nicholas Latifi.
Latifi turned into the chicane too early, driving onto the West Course layout that is a few metres before the Formula 1 circuit, before swiftly realising his error and having to undertake a U-turn.
Saturday’s final practice session is scheduled for 12:00 local time
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