TOKYO, Oct 7 (BUS): Fernando Alonso in the Alps set the fastest time in a wet opening practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix on Friday.
The Spaniard cut the flooded Suzuka circuit in one minute, 42.248 seconds ahead of compatriot Carlos Sainz in his Ferrari. Charles Leclerc followed his Ferrari teammate for third.
Runaway championship leader Max Verstappen, who could win a second title in a row on Sunday, was only sixth behind in-between Esteban Ocon and Haas rider Kevin Magnussen.
Dutchman Verstappen, who leads Leclerc by 104 points in the standings, completed just four laps around the place as he made his F1 debut at the weekend just days after his 17th birthday in 2014.
Mick Schumacher was the seventh fastest Haas team. The German crashed after the end of the course on a hard left Dunlop sweep after it had completed a grid start training, according to Reuters.
McLaren’s Lando Norris finished eighth, ahead of Valtteri Bottas at Alfa Romeo. Mexican Sergio Perez, winner of the Red Bull title last week in Singapore, was 10th.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton completed six laps and was fastest in thirteenth place. Yuki Tsunoda was 19th for the AlphaTauri team ahead of Sebastian Vettel, who backed the schedules.
Schumacher’s accident, which damaged the front suspension of his Haas, was the only major accident in the session. Some drivers went off the track in slippery conditions but managed to escape unscathed.
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