Piastri Leads McLaren 1-2 in Disrupted 2025 Japanese GP FP2 Marked by Crashes and Red Flags

Friday's second practice session at Suzuka was anything but straightforward. Following an FP1 session topped by championship leader Lando Norris (McLaren) and featuring Yuki Tsunoda's debut for Red Bull, FP2 descended into chaos.

Less than 10 minutes in, Jack Doohan, taking over the Alpine after Ryo Hirakawa drove it in FP1, had a massive shunt entering Turn 1. Replays suggested his DRS might not have closed correctly, leading to a loss of rear downforce and a high-speed impact with the barriers. While Doohan walked away unharmed after medical checks, the damage to the A525 appeared extensive.

Track action resumed after a lengthy clean-up, but further interruptions followed. Fernando Alonso lost control entering the Degner curves, beaching his Aston Martin in the gravel and triggering the second red flag. Later, two unusual incidents occurred where grass fires ignited beside the track, possibly due to sparks from the cars, leading to two more brief stoppages.

Amidst the fragmented running, McLaren locked out the top two spots, with Oscar Piastri narrowly edging out Norris. Racing Bulls were notably quick, with Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson finishing P3 and P5 respectively, sandwiching Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari in P4. George Russell (Mercedes) was sixth, ahead of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who struggled with understeer and finished eighth. The frequent red flags meant many drivers, including the Mercedes pair, had compromised soft tyre runs, making the final classification less representative than usual.

Who was fastest in FP2 for the 2025 Japanese GP?

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) set the fastest time with a 1:28.114s.

Why were there so many red flags in FP2?

There were four red flags: one for a heavy crash involving Jack Doohan (Alpine), one for Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) going into the gravel, and two for small grass fires beside the track.

Was Jack Doohan injured in his crash?

No, Jack Doohan reported he was okay over the radio and was cleared after checks at the medical centre, but his car sustained significant damage.

The limited running makes Saturday's final practice crucial. Do you think McLaren can maintain their advantage, or will teams like Red Bull and Ferrari find more pace overnight? Let us know!

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