Japanese Grand Prix 2019: Lewis Hamilton trails Valtteri Bottas in potentially pivotal third practice
The grid will be determined by today’s results if qualifying cannot go ahead on Sunday
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lewis Hamilton trailed Valtteri Bottas in what could prove a pivotal final practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix.
With Super Typhoon Hagibis looming, circuit officials at Suzuka took the decision to postpone qualifying until the morning of Sunday's race when conditions are forecast to have improved.
But if the track remains too dangerous for the cars to run, the final running here on Friday will determine the grid.
Bottas, who trails Hamilton in the championship by 73 points with only 130 available, finished 0.100 seconds clear of Mercedes team-mate Hamilton with Red Bull's Max Verstappen third.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel put on fresh tyres in the closing stages of practice. And although the pair improved their times, they finished only fourth and fifth respectively.
Ferrari have been the team to beat since the summer break, but Mercedes dominated practice here at a venue in which they are unbeaten at since 2014.
The Mercedes cars are armed with upgrades, and look well placed to extend their Japanese winning record into a sixth successive year.
Surprisingly, perhaps, it was Bottas' name, and not Hamilton's, at the top of the time charts in both sessions.
Bottas spun at the final corner, but was able to recover to edge out his Mercedes team-mate.
Hamilton heads into Sunday's race needing to outscore Bottas by a mere five points over the next two races - here at Suzuka and in Mexico in a fortnight's time - to secure his sixth world championship.
His Mercedes team, meanwhile, can wrap up their sixth consecutive constructors' title as early as Sunday if they score 15 more points than Ferrari here. It is a scenario which looks possible after Leclerc and Vettel finished behind both Mercedes drivers, and Verstappen, too.
Verstappen, cheered on by large chunks of the crowd in Suzuka, given that Red Bull are powered by Japanese manufacturer Honda, finished three tenths adrift of Bottas.
The Dutchman's team-mate Alex Albon finished sixth ahead of Carlos Sainz for McLaren. British teenager Lando Norris was 10th, three tenths slower than his Spanish team-mate.
British rookie George Russell propped up the order for Williams.
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments