Among those to move in the opposite direction was Frenchman Jules Bianchi, the F3 Masters champion slipping back to 17th after causing the other red flag to halt the session. The ART driver hit the wall at R Bend with twelve minutes to go and ripped a wheel off his car, leaving him a sitting duck as others improved in the final moments.

Brendon Hartley headed Coletti and Chilton - who managed to be close to each other on the timesheets as well as the road - and Mika Maki, who bounced back from his Thursday crash and provisional DNQ to claim 14th after yo-yo'ing up and down the order during the session. The Finn moved back ahead of Marcus Ericsson and Kazuya Oshima - another improving after a Thursday meeting with the barriers - while Bianchi, Cozzolino, Walter Grubmuller and Franky Cheng rounded out the top 20.

While all bar the four slowest qualifiers improved on their Thursday times, it did not necessarily translate into better grid positions. Among those dropping back was James Winslow, the Australian champion finding nearly 1.5secs but losing five places after being 17th on day one. The Briton nevertheless qualified ahead of Euroseries racewinner Jon Lancaster and British series frontrunner Atte Mustonen amongst others.

The drivers will return to the track on Saturday for a ten-lap sprint to determine the grid for the 55th Macau Grand Prix, which takes place over 15 laps on Sunday.