Vettel: We know what we were doing

While title rival Lewis Hamilton topped the timing sheets at the end of FP2, Vettel could only get to within eight-tenths of the Briton, but such was the gap that Mercedes were quick to suggest the Reds have more in store.

They may be on the mark, as Vettel tried to explain to reporters, “It’s turned down; if the others turn it up you are left somewhere in the middle, but it’s pointless to go into details. I think we know what we were doing and I don’t think we were trying to do something different to other Fridays."

“We know what the car can do and we need to focus on that and try to get everything out to put us in the best possible position. If we can grasp pole tomorrow, that’s great, but if not we need to be there just right behind and see what happens."

"It’s a long weekend and today is only Friday. There is a little bit to squeeze out of the car and myself, I’m sure. I was pretty happy — I think it was pretty good."

Suzuka is one of the great race circuits that still remain on the Formula 1 calendar where Mercedes have been unbeatable since 2014 and although Vettel is a four-time winner, in Japan, his last win was back in 2013, while Ferrari last topped the Suzuka podium back in 2004 with Michael Schumacher!

Vettel continued, "It’s a monster lap and you always think there is a bit more here and there. I think we can still improve."

"In the end we tried something with the car that managed to give us a bit of a better feeling, so let’s see if we can carry that into tomorrow and find something else. Tonight we have to work hard because we need to be fast in qualifying."

"Obviously, if the others are as strong tomorrow as they were today, then it will be very hard, but we’ll see."

With typhoons hovering perilously close to the island nation, weather could still have a say on the weekend's proceedings, "Rain could make things more interesting tomorrow, but for now we keep working hard, doing our job and then we’ll see."

"It’s a long weekend and today is only Friday, so I am sure there’s still a bit to squeeze out of the car."

Can Ferrari close the gap?

“Time will tell, I don’t know. We couldn’t do that today but it doesn’t matter what they do, we look at ourselves and try to get the best from our package," insisted Vettel.

Kimi Raikkonen was four tenths shy of his teammate and summed up his day, "This has been a normal Friday, both in terms of the things we tried and of engine usage."

"We have been focusing on trying to get the best set-up for the car and towards the end of the session it felt better to drive, but for sure we have some work to do before tomorrow," added the Finn.