Mark Webber has set the fastest time in the second Formula 1 free practice session at Suzuka today.
Webber was third fastest in the first session behind the McLaren pair of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, but increased his pace to clock a 1:32.492s in P2, a clear 0.214s ahead of Mercedes-bound Hamilton.
Webber’s Red Bull Racing team-mate Sebastian Vettel was third fastest.
The Australian said that despite being on top, the Red Bull team has some challenges ahead.
“We have plenty to go through this evening, (but) it was a smooth one for us and we completed all the runs we wanted to,” he said.
“It’s a challenging venue in terms of balance here, but the car ran well and we tested both tyres. We have areas where we can improve, mostly with the balance, so we have some work to do.”
Force India’s Nico Hulkenburg put in a good showing to finish the session fourth fastest, in front of Ferrari’s championship leader Fernando Alonso and Renault driver Romain Grosjean.
Reigning Japanese Grand Prix winner Jenson Button was seventh quickest ahead of Bruno Senna, Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher, who crashed late in the session.
Paul di Resta spun sideways and careered into the safety barrier with six minutes left to run, with the Scotsman directly blaming himself following the crash.
“Completely down to me … a bit ambitious a bit too early,” di Resta said.
“It was frustrating because I was six tenths up and Kimi (Raikkonen) was in my way, but the responsibility was mine.”
Vitaly Petrov also left the circuit and beached himself in the Turn 1 gravel, after his Caterham allegedly shed its rear wing on pit straight.
All Lotus personel were forced to wear rubber gear for safety reasons after the KERS battery on Kimi Raikkonen’s car was found to be leaking.
Raikkonen finished the session 14th fastest after spending the majority of the session in the garage.
Perth native Daniel Ricciardo finished the session in 16th position, one place ahead of his Toro Rosso teammate Jean-Eric Vergne.
Practice 1
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Time/Retired | Gap | Laps |
| 1 | 3 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:34.507 | 20 | |
| 2 | 4 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:34.740 | 0.233 | 26 |
| 3 | 2 | Mark Webber | Red Bull Racing-Renault | 1:34.856 | 0.349 | 24 |
| 4 | 8 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:35.059 | 0.552 | 18 |
| 5 | 7 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1:35.122 | 0.615 | 20 |
| 6 | 14 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:35.199 | 0.692 | 27 |
| 7 | 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:35.283 | 0.776 | 24 |
| 8 | 11 | Paul di Resta | Force India-Mercedes | 1:35.299 | 0.792 | 18 |
| 9 | 12 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India-Mercedes | 1:35.474 | 0.967 | 22 |
| 10 | 18 | Pastor Maldonado | Williams-Renault | 1:35.478 | 0.971 | 24 |
| 11 | 5 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1:35.484 | 0.977 | 26 |
| 12 | 15 | Sergio Perez | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:35.584 | 1.077 | 24 |
| 13 | 9 | Kimi Räikkönen | Lotus-Renault | 1:35.691 | 1.184 | 22 |
| 14 | 10 | Romain Grosjean | Lotus-Renault | 1:35.724 | 1.217 | 21 |
| 15 | 16 | Daniel Ricciardo | STR-Ferrari | 1:36.123 | 1.616 | 19 |
| 16 | 17 | Jean-Eric Vergne | STR-Ferrari | 1:36.222 | 1.715 | 25 |
| 17 | 1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull Racing-Renault | 1:36.366 | 1.859 | 23 |
| 18 | 19 | Valtteri Bottas | Williams-Renault | 1:36.389 | 1.882 | 24 |
| 19 | 24 | Timo Glock | Marussia-Cosworth | 1:37.716 | 3.209 | 17 |
| 20 | 21 | Vitaly Petrov | Caterham-Renault | 1:38.295 | 3.788 | 23 |
| 21 | 25 | Charles Pic | Marussia-Cosworth | 1:38.616 | 4.109 | 25 |
| 22 | 23 | Narain Karthikeyan | HRT-Cosworth | 1:39.043 | 4.536 | 25 |
| 23 | 20 | Giedo van der Garde | Caterham-Renault | 1:39.374 | 4.867 | 22 |
| 24 | 22 | Pedro de la Rosa | HRT-Cosworth | 1:39.688 | 5.181 | 19 |
Practice 2
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Time/Retired | Gap | Laps |
| 1 | 2 | Mark Webber | Red Bull Racing-Renault | 1:32.493 | 34 | |
| 2 | 4 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:32.707 | 0.214 | 32 |
| 3 | 1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull Racing-Renault | 1:32.836 | 0.343 | 37 |
| 4 | 12 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India-Mercedes | 1:32.987 | 0.494 | 30 |
| 5 | 5 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1:33.093 | 0.600 | 28 |
| 6 | 10 | Romain Grosjean | Lotus-Renault | 1:33.107 | 0.614 | 35 |
| 7 | 3 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:33.349 | 0.856 | 22 |
| 8 | 19 | Bruno Senna | Williams-Renault | 1:33.499 | 1.006 | 35 |
| 9 | 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:33.614 | 1.121 | 32 |
| 10 | 7 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1:33.750 | 1.257 | 13 |
| 11 | 8 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:33.866 | 1.373 | 19 |
| 12 | 15 | Sergio Perez | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:33.903 | 1.410 | 36 |
| 13 | 14 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:33.983 | 1.490 | 33 |
| 14 | 9 | Kimi Räikkönen | Lotus-Renault | 1:34.291 | 1.798 | 12 |
| 15 | 18 | Pastor Maldonado | Williams-Renault | 1:34.300 | 1.807 | 33 |
| 16 | 16 | Daniel Ricciardo | STR-Ferrari | 1:34.863 | 2.370 | 32 |
| 17 | 17 | Jean-Eric Vergne | STR-Ferrari | 1:35.080 | 2.587 | 34 |
| 18 | 20 | Heikki Kovalainen | Caterham-Renault | 1:35.711 | 3.218 | 41 |
| 19 | 21 | Vitaly Petrov | Caterham-Renault | 1:35.870 | 3.377 | 37 |
| 20 | 24 | Timo Glock | Marussia-Cosworth | 1:36.194 | 3.701 | 32 |
| 21 | 25 | Charles Pic | Marussia-Cosworth | 1:36.636 | 4.143 | 28 |
| 22 | 22 | Pedro de la Rosa | HRT-Cosworth | 1:37.342 | 4.849 | 30 |
| 23 | 23 | Narain Karthikeyan | HRT-Cosworth | 1:37.701 | 5.208 | 35 |
| 24 | 11 | Paul di Resta | Force India-Mercedes | No time | 2 |
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