McLaren’s Oscar Piastri set the fastest time in Friday’s second practice for the Japan Grand Prix, pipping the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Piastri hasn’t even started a major race yet this season but the Australian showed off his talent with a time of one minute, 30.133 seconds in dry and sunny conditions at Suzuka.
Italy’s 19-year-old Antonelli, who won the first race of his career in China two weeks ago, was second, 0.092 seconds behind Piastri.
Early championship leader Russell, who was fastest in morning practice ahead of Antonelli, was third.
Piastri has endured a poor start to the season, falling off the grid at the Australian opener and failing to start the Grand Prix in China due to a technical problem.
He hailed a “good day” in Japan, with McLaren team-mate and world champion Lando Norris setting the fourth fastest time.
