Lewis Hamilton is third fastest in rain-hit practice session at Japanese Grand Prix behind Red Bull leader Daniil Kvyat

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Daniil Kvyat set the pace with a time of one minute, 48.277secs in Japan
Nico Rosberg was second in practice with Lewis Hamilton in third
Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz led first session before conditions improved
Red Bull's renewed competitive edge may worry the leading constructors

Published: 00:42 EST, 25 September 2015 | Updated: 16:45 EST, 25 September 2015

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Red Bull youngster Daniil Kvyat set the fastest time in Japanese Grand Prix practice on Friday as both sessions were badly affected by rain.

The Suzuka track was soaked throughout the day, with puddles and standing water disrupting the drivers as Formula One returned to the circuit for the first time since Jules Bianchi's tragic crash.

Carlos Sainz, of Red Bull's sister team Toro Rosso, surprisingly topped the timesheets early on before Kvyat made the most of slightly better conditions in the second session.

Lewis Hamilton was one of just 12 drivers to post a competitive lap during rain-hit practice at Suzuka Circuit

Water sprays up from the Mercedes driver's wheels as he posted the third fastest time in practice

Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat poses for a selfie in the team garage after setting the fastest time in Suzuka

Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari sprays up water off the soaked Suzuka track in front of the circuit's ferris wheel

All drivers were able to get onto the intermediate tyre in the second session, and times began to improve

Mercedes, who are looking to recover after their mystifying lack of pace in Singapore, were kept off the top again with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton second and third.

It is Red Bull's renewed competitive edge that may worry the leading constructors. Daniel Ricciardo finished just behind the Mercedes duo in fourth in FP2, still nearly a second down on Kvyat's fastest time of one minute 48.277 seconds.

The conditions on Friday were reminiscent of those which saw Bianchi skid off the track and hit the side of a recovery vehicle in last year's tragic race.

Only 12 drivers posted competitive times in the persistent rain of FP1. Championship leader Hamilton, who completed only six laps, was fifth quickest, over one second slower than Sainz. Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa meanwhile both experienced hairy moments.

All drivers were able to get onto the intermediate tyre in the second session, and times began to improve. Ferrari struggled to match the pace initially set by Mercedes, it was instead Red Bull who sandwiched Rosberg and Hamilton with Kvyat's impressive run.

Russian Kvyat will be keen to put down his marker in third practice and qualifying on Saturday

Nico Rosberg was second fastest during the session despite having to cope with the desperate conditions

Hamilton peers through his visor during the first practice session at Suzuka on Friday ahead of the Grand Prix

Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz was the surprise name at the top of the order after the earlier rain-hit session

The Russian shone in Singapore last week before struggling slightly in the race, and will be keen to put down his marker in third practice and qualifying on Saturday.

Unfortunately, the rain picked up around 40 minutes before the end of proceedings in FP2, with most drivers heading back into the pits. Bottas didn't get out at all.

The problems mounted for McLaren with Jenson Button not happy with his set-up all day, while Fernando Alonso was only able to set a lap time when the weather was at its worst.

The miserable conditions hampered the opening practice in Japan but the weather is expected to improve

The conditions on Friday were eerily similar to those which saw Jules Bianchi skid off the track last year

Hamilton completed only six laps of the early session and was fifth fastest behind Toro Rosso's Sainz

Lotus meanwhile didn't take part in first practice at all, with mechanics having worked into the night to get both cars ready following the late arrival of some of their freights. The team are still locked out of their hospitality tent, so perhaps they were scared of damaging any parts in these conditions.

Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado did set times in the second session, but were only quick enough to finish 15th and 16th respectively.