Friday analysis – even Mercedes surprised by level of dominance

Three crashes, two red flags and light rain at the end made FP2 a scrappy session, but there was general relief that the weather was much more favourable than it had been yesterday. Apart from those involved in the shunts – Caterham, Red Bull and Sauber – everyone got the majority of their programmes completed. The biggest concerns for the frontrunners? Mercedes’ mighty pace, and the impending arrival of Typhoon Phanfone. We take a team-by-team look at the early progress at Suzuka