7 Slides, Smashes And Fails From Today's Japanese Grand Prix Practice

Friday’s two practice sessions for the Japanese Grand Prix were eventful to say the least, as drivers tackled the Suzuka circuit at the wheel of 2014 machinery for the first time.

The opening session saw plenty of off-track excursions and slides, including a near miss for Caterham’s Roberto Merhi - who replaced home hero Kamui Kobayashi for FP1 - and a great slide by Sebastian Vettel.

The second session got off to a dramatic start, with Kobayashi crashing after just three laps at turn four. Daniel Ricciardo found the wall a little while later at the final corner as he prepared for a flying lap.

In between the first two crashes in second practice, Jean-Eric Vergne stopped his car at turn seven with a power-unit problem. TV cameras picked up a marshal, who was helping to recover Vergne’s Toro Rosso STR9, fall over and lose his shoe. Oops.

Esteban Gutierrez was the third and final driver to crash at Suzuka in second practice. He lost control of his Sauber at the Spoon Curve, sliding into the tyre barrier.

Meanwhile championship leader Lewis Hamilton almost became the fourth to hit the wall after a wild moment at turn nine.

More drama is expected over the remainder of the weekend, with wet weather closing in on the circuit thanks to the approaching Typhoon Phanfone. Chances that it will hit Suzuka on Sunday are reducing, but it could delay travel plans to Sochi for next weekend’s inaugural Russian Grand Prix on Monday.