Valterri Bottas was in upbeat mood after finishing third fastest in second practice for tomorrow’s race in Suzuka.

Driving his Grove-prepared Williams, the Finn was a only beaten by the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, who was quickest, and Nico Rosberg.

However Bottas, whose teammate Felipe Massa could only manage 14th, was nearly a full second short of Rosberg with the McLaren of Jenson Button fourth fastest.

“From the first lap the car balance was good so we have made a good step forward,” said Bottas, who stands sixth in the drivers’ standings.

  • Sport Latest Sport news “The upgrades we have brought have worked well, which is positive to see.

“It will be interesting to see where we are when people start to squeeze a little more from their cars.

“Although the Mercedes still look strong, there will be a good fight between us, the Ferraris and the Red Bulls.”

Massa said: “Our race pace looks strong from what Valtteri has shown, so we will work hard to get my car working the same.”

There was no joy for the Enstone-based Lotus team.

Pastor Maldonado faces a ten-place grid penalty for taking on a sixth engine of the season and he looks set to drop to the back having only managed the 16th fastest time, with team-mate Romain Grosjean 13th.

The the bottom four places were again occupied by Caterham and Marussia.

Caterham nsist they will be racing, despite bailffs this week seizing cars and parts from their Oxfordshire base at Leafield.

On the track, both Caterham’s Marcus Ericsson and reserve driver Roberto Merhi outpaced rivals Banbury-based Marussia as the team in Japan look to put anything away from the circuit out of their minds.

Jules Bianchi was quicker than Marussia colleague Max Chilton.

Hamilton, who leads the championship by three points over his German teammate, did well to correct a skid that could have seen him hit the wall.

Typhoon Phanfone has been seen as a threat to the racek, but the majority of Friday was unaffected, with light rain only coming in the closing stages of free practice two.

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