Rain forecast for Suzuka as Max aims to clinch F1 title

GEORGE Russell and Lewis Hamilton made it a Mercedes one-two ahead of title-chasing Max Verstappen in a soggy second practice yesterday for the Japanese Grand Prix.

But runaway Red Bull leader Verstappen can clinch his second straight world title tomorrow if he wins the race with the fastest lap, no matter what his rivals do. The Dutchman will also retain his crown if he wins and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, his nearest challenger, is third or lower.

But Verstappen was beaten to the quickest time in second practice by the Mercedes pair, with Russell clocking a fastest lap of 1min 41.935sec.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton followed his fellow Briton 0.235sec behind, with Verstappen coming in third, a sizeable 0.851sec behind Russell.

Leclerc finished 2.774sec behind Russell in 11th.

“It wasn’t a complete disaster with the weather,” said Verstappen.

“We could at least get round and do a little bit of stuff, but in terms of knowing where you are with pace, in the wet it’s always a bit tricky.”

A rainy start to the session at Suzuka meant the drivers began on wet tyres, but switched to intermediates once the conditions improved.

That did not satisfy Verstappen though, with the flying Dutchman telling his team “all tyres are s---, no grip”, over the radio.

Some rain is forecast again for tomorrow.

The Japanese Grand Prix returns after a three-year absence because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Fans turned up to watch the practice in colourful costumes despite the grim conditions, and Hamilton said he enjoyed being back after three years away.

“It’s always special when you do your first lap out, you think of all the legends as you come up to the last chicane,” he said, recalling Ayrton

Senna and Alain Prost’s famous collision on the course in 1989.

“You just think you are driving through a space, a point on the circuit which had so much history. At that moment you think of the time before and how privileged you are to be in the position.” | AFP