Kvyat quickest at rain-soaked Suzuka

Suzuka, Japan - Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg showed flashes of pace in Friday's second free practice for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix before heavy rain effectively washed out much of the afternoon session.

Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat topped the timesheets at a soaking Suzuka, clocking 1m48.277 seconds with Rosberg 0.023s back and reigning world champion Hamilton a further half-second slower.

Rain had created havoc in the morning practice, when only 12 drivers completed a timed lap as they struggled to keep control of their aqua-planing cars.

Mercedes, looking to fix a mysterious loss of pace in Singapore last weekend, shot out to the quickest times in the second session, before Kvyat backed up an impressive early display by edging ahead of Rosberg.

But just as things began hotting up, the rain returned to send the cars back to their garages and when Hamilton finally emerged on wet tyres, he was warned over the radio “be mindful of the rivers,” so soggy were the conditions.

Daniel Ricciardo clocked the fourth fastest time behind Hamilton with Singapore winner Sebastian Vettel steering his Ferrari to the fifth-quickest lap.

Vettel put in a shift despite the atrocious weather, completing 19 laps, correcting a heart-stopping slide through the quick right-hander between the hairpin and Spoon as he ran fourth in the morning.

Rosberg also survived a couple of early scares in a hair-raising first practice, braking late into the chicane and sliding onto the run-off.

TREACHEROUS CONDITIONS

Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz was quickest in the first session in a time of 1m49.434s half-a-second clear of Kvyat, but struggled in the afternoon, complaining of “strange noises” coming from his engine.

With memories of Frenchman Jules Bianchi's fatal crash at a wet Suzuka last year certain to make Sunday's race an emotional one, drivers were anxious to avoid taking any risks in the treacherous conditions.

Hamilton, who suffered his first retirement in more than a year last week but still boasts a 41-point championship lead with six races left, expressed frustration that Friday had turned into little more than an exercise in data analysis.

“You don't want to take too many risks, damaging the car,” he said. “Today we were just practising starts and getting a couple of laps in - but there wasn't really an awful lot to learn.”

Looking forward to Saturday's qualifying, he added: “I hope it's dry. Today is a shame for the fans. They've been sitting in the rain and not seeing many cars go round. It must be a bit boring for them.

Jenson Button, whose Formula One future is in doubt after talks over a contract extension with McLaren appeared to have stalled, complained of “massive understeer” and finished 12th, almost four seconds adrift.

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso went out after McLaren switched his engine, Honda mechanics having discovered a problem after the morning practice.

Neatly encapsulating the way his season has gone, the double world champion cut a forlorn figure staring out into the gloom for the first 40 minutes, and eventually finished 17th.

HAS BUTTON HAD ENOUGH?

McLaren hinted that Button was planning to call time on his Formula One career but said it still hoped to persuade Britain's 2009 world champion to stay with them next season.

Managing director Jonathan Neale said: “Jenson is a fantastic guy, a world champion and a big part of our family at McLaren for six seasons.

"We are contracted with him, we want him to stay and we like him very much," he added,”but if your driver doesn't really want to be in the seat, then we have to respect that."

Button's future has become a hot topic in the Formula One paddock, with mounting speculation earlier in the week that he was planning an announcement at his favourite circuit.

Instead, the 35-year-old told reporters that they would have to wait for news.

Neale noted that had come as something of an anti-climax for the media but the team wanted to continue discussions with Button.

Former champions McLaren, in a new partnership with Honda, have had an abject season with the engine uncompetitive and unr

GROSJEAN TO HAAS?

Romain Grosjean appeared close to leaving troubled Lotus for new American-owned team Haas after a frustrating practice.

With cash-strapped Lotus embarrassingly locked out of their hospitality unit in Suzuka for a second day over a payment issue, Grosjean stopped short of confirming speculation he was about to leave for a fresh challenge - but only just.

"I've made up my mind," Grosjean said after coming in 15th quickest in second free practice. "I can't comment any further yet but in my mind it's done. I'm happy with it.

"You will know soon," Grosjean added as Haas, which will use Ferrari engines, prepared to make a driver announcement next Tuesday at their headquarters in North Carolina.

"The more I think about it, I am more and more happy with it. It is not so easy to take a decision in your life, your career - but it is part of our job."

Lotus's woes plumbed new depths on Thursday when they were locked out of paddock hospitality over unpaid bills as freight, including engines, was delayed.

Left to talk to media huddled under umbrellas in the rain, Grosjean put on a brave face but after Lotus officials completed scant mileage in Friday's rain-soaked practice to avoid potential damage, he threw off any pretence.

"I feel like I'm camping," he shrugged as equipment sat under tarpaulin outside the team's empty hospitality unit, in stark contrast to rival team suites which were full of buffets, fruit bowls and gleaming cappuccino makers.

"I hate camping."

Amid so much uncertainty over the team's future and with Lotus mechanics facing more long nights in Japan to prepare their cars, Grosjean appeared to already have one foot out of the door.

"You can always change your mind but I am pretty pleased with my choice," he said, adding that his decision "should arrive sooner rather than later. In my mind, it is done. It is all done."

RESULTS

1 Daniil Kvyat (Russia) Red Bull - 1:48.277

2 Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes - 1:48.300

3 Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes - 1:48.853

4 Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull - 1:49.097

5 Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari - 1:50.268

6 Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari - 1:50.319

7 Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso - 1:50.418

8 Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Toro Rosso - 1:50.542

9 Felipe Nasr (Brazil) Sauber - 1:50.968

10 Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Lotus - 1:51.557

11 Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India - 1:51.674