Sebastian Vettel remains the man to beat at Suzuka after taking pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix.
He leads an all-Red Bull front row at Suzuka while Robert Kubica will start from third position.
Lewis Hamilton qualified third but will start from eighth due to his penalty. Robert Kubica’s Renault will take third on the grid instead.
Q1
The first part of qualifying was very busy, with drivers doing many laps as the track conditions improved rapidly.
A few damp spots around the circuit were not enough to lead most teams into using anything other than slicks – with the exception of McLaren, who sent both their drivers out on intermediates.
Despite a busy session for traffic there were few surprises in Q1. The three new teams were eliminated as usual along with one of the Toro Rossos – Sebastien Buemi, who said he’d been held up by an HRT on his last effort.
Driver eliminated in Q1
18 | Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’33.568 |
19 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’35.346 |
20 | Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’35.464 |
21 | Lucas di Grassi | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’36.265 |
22 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’36.332 |
23 | Bruno Senna | HRT-Cosworth | 1’37.270 |
24 | Sakon Yamamoto | HRT-Cosworth | 1’37.365 |
Q2
The shock of Q2 was Felipe Massa failing to make the cut for Q3. He looked on course to improve on his final tour but a slow middle sector left him 12th.
Nick Heidfeld was on the cusp of making it through into the top ten in the Sauber. But he was demoted at the end by Michael Schumacher in the Mercedes.
It was another poor qualifying session for Force India, with Adrian Sutil 15th, two places ahead of his team mate.
Driver eliminated in Q2
11 | Nick Heidfeld | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’32.187 |
12 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1’32.321 |
13 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | 1’32.422 |
14 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’32.427 |
15 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1’32.659 |
16 | Jaime Alguersuari | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’33.071 |
17 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 1’33.154 |
Q3
Jenson Button made an unusual gamble to use the hard tyres in Q3. It seemed to pay off to begin with, as he moved up to fourth place with his first lap.
But he couldn’t improve on his final run, and later said they should have done a single lap and took the benefit of running with less fuel.
Sebastian Vettel put in another virtuoso performance to take pole position, clearly revelling in the RB6’s massive downforce on the Suzuka circuit.
But Mark Webber got within a few hundredths of his flying team mate to take second place and complete an all-Red Bull front row.
Lewis Hamilton took third place despite failing to improve in the first sector on his final lap. But his gearbox change penalty means he will start the race from eighth place.
Taking third in his place will be Robert Kubica, who qualified ahead of Fernando Alonso.
Top ten in Q3
1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1’30.785 |
2 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1’30.853 |
3 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’31.169 |
4 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 1’31.231 |
5 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1’31.352 |
6 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’31.378 |
7 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1’31.494 |
8 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 1’31.535 |
9 | Nico Hulkenberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1’31.559 |
10 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1’31.846 |
Qualifying times in full
Driver | Car | Q1 | Q2 (vs Q1) | Q3 (vs Q2) | |
1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1’32.035 | 1’31.184 (-0.851) | 1’30.785 (-0.399) |
2 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1’32.476 | 1’31.241 (-1.235) | 1’30.853 (-0.388) |
3 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’32.809 | 1’31.523 (-1.286) | 1’31.169 (-0.354) |
4 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 1’32.808 | 1’32.042 (-0.766) | 1’31.231 (-0.811) |
5 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1’32.555 | 1’31.819 (-0.736) | 1’31.352 (-0.467) |
6 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’32.636 | 1’31.763 (-0.873) | 1’31.378 (-0.385) |
7 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1’32.238 | 1’31.886 (-0.352) | 1’31.494 (-0.392) |
8 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 1’32.361 | 1’31.874 (-0.487) | 1’31.535 (-0.339) |
9 | Nico Hulkenberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1’32.211 | 1’31.926 (-0.285) | 1’31.559 (-0.367) |
10 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1’32.513 | 1’32.073 (-0.440) | 1’31.846 (-0.227) |
11 | Nick Heidfeld | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’33.011 | 1’32.187 (-0.824) | |
12 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1’32.721 | 1’32.321 (-0.400) | |
13 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | 1’32.849 | 1’32.422 (-0.427) | |
14 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’32.783 | 1’32.427 (-0.356) | |
15 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1’33.186 | 1’32.659 (-0.527) | |
16 | Jaime Alguersuari | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’33.471 | 1’33.071 (-0.400) | |
17 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 1’33.216 | 1’33.154 (-0.062) | |
18 | Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’33.568 | ||
19 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’35.346 | ||
20 | Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’35.464 | ||
21 | Lucas di Grassi | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’36.265 | ||
22 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’36.332 | ||
23 | Bruno Senna | HRT-Cosworth | 1’37.270 | ||
24 | Sakon Yamamoto | HRT-Cosworth | 1’37.365 |
Ultimate laps
A drivers’ ultimate lap is his best sector times added together.
Driver | Car | Ultimate lap | Gap | Deficit to best | Actual position | |
1 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | 1’30.7660.019 | 1 | ||
2 | 6 | Mark Webber | 1’30.8080.042 | 0.045 | 2 | |
3 | 2 | Lewis Hamilton | 1’31.0970.331 | 0.072 | 3 | |
4 | 8 | Fernando Alonso | 1’31.2130.447 | 0.139 | 5 | |
5 | 11 | Robert Kubica | 1’31.2310.465 | 0.000 | 4 | |
6 | 1 | Jenson Button | 1’31.3780.612 | 0.000 | 6 | |
7 | 4 | Nico Rosberg | 1’31.4190.653 | 0.075 | 7 | |
8 | 10 | Nico Hulkenberg | 1’31.5070.741 | 0.052 | 9 | |
9 | 9 | Rubens Barrichello | 1’31.5350.769 | 0.000 | 8 | |
10 | 3 | Michael Schumacher | 1’31.7630.997 | 0.083 | 10 | |
11 | 7 | Felipe Massa | 1’32.1191.353 | 0.202 | 12 | |
12 | 23 | Kamui Kobayashi | 1’32.1281.362 | 0.299 | 14 | |
13 | 22 | Nick Heidfeld | 1’32.1871.421 | 0.000 | 11 | |
14 | 12 | Vitaly Petrov | 1’32.3841.618 | 0.038 | 13 | |
15 | 15 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | 1’32.5941.828 | 0.560 | 17 | |
16 | 14 | Adrian Sutil | 1’32.6221.856 | 0.037 | 15 | |
17 | 17 | Jaime Alguersuari | 1’32.6611.895 | 0.410 | 16 | |
18 | 16 | Sebastien Buemi | 1’33.3692.603 | 0.199 | 18 | |
19 | 18 | Jarno Trulli | 1’35.3394.573 | 0.007 | 19 | |
20 | 19 | Heikki Kovalainen | 1’35.4504.684 | 0.014 | 20 | |
21 | 25 | Lucas di Grassi | 1’36.2655.499 | 0.000 | 21 | |
22 | 24 | Timo Glock | 1’36.2805.514 | 0.052 | 22 | |
23 | 21 | Bruno Senna | 1’37.1866.420 | 0.084 | 23 | |
24 | 20 | Sakon Yamamoto | 1’37.3386.572 | 0.027 | 24 |
2010 Japanese Grand Prix
Image © Red Bull/Getty images
Zatarra
10th October 2010, 3:23
I bow before You, Robert !
US_Peter (@us_peter)
10th October 2010, 3:27
He always shines on circuits with dangerous consequences. The circuits that separate the men from the boys if you will. Kubica is certainly a man.
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
10th October 2010, 3:29
The Polish Mansell perhaps?
spezza
10th October 2010, 3:45
Well after Q2 it was like 7-10 fight for Rob.
He and Lewis- master class.
Mr. Zing Zang
10th October 2010, 4:14
I think his car is pretty good on these tracks. I bet if he had rosberg as a team mate he wouldn’t look so special.
luke
10th October 2010, 4:19
Yes he would. Kubica’s better.
Mike
10th October 2010, 6:23
I think he’d still look good, perhaps even more so, at the moment, it’s almost like he is in a one car team. If he had a bigger name against him, people would think even more of him.
3rd in a car is supposedly a high mid table car… Not bad at all!…
Rahim RG
10th October 2010, 3:33
Good Job Robert and Vettel
But i think Button did a Great Job too on Hard tyres….Will be interest Tomorrow….I Mean Today :)
SijS
10th October 2010, 3:33
Mighty improvement from Williams! were consistently among top 6. Force India should forget catching them and just focus on next year…
Olaf
10th October 2010, 3:34
Any advantage on starting 1 vs 2?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
10th October 2010, 4:11
First is further ahead…
In terms of grip, P1 is on the racing line but clean/dirty effect will be diminished by all the rain that fell yesterday.
DaveW
10th October 2010, 5:15
So we have better odds of seeing two purple cars plunge into turn 1 wheel to wheel. Can’t hardly wait. Given how those two start, I see Bobby Kubica through the esses first, one way or another.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
10th October 2010, 5:19
I don’t agree: Webber can afford to lose point to Vettel but not to Alonso. He’ll take it easy.
AK
10th October 2010, 5:24
I think he means get-aways from the line. They both got pretty good starts in Singapore so maybe they’ve fixed that issue.
Darren
10th October 2010, 3:38
Whats will the WC points be if Vet finishes 1st and Web 2nd?
AK
10th October 2010, 5:21
Webber will have extended his championship lead by 3 pts to 14pts, Vettel into second place and Alonso down to at best 3rd. All of which would leave Vettel needing to beat Webber in at least two of the remaining three races to have a chance.
Nik
10th October 2010, 5:21
Assuming everybody else will DNF?
AK
10th October 2010, 5:27
It doesn’t matter about the rest as Vettel will at worst be in second place with a win and Webber will retain a lead in the championship with a podium.
AK
10th October 2010, 5:29
If you mean for the rest of season, no, that’s simply the minimum necessary requirement for Vettel going forward given a 1-2 for RB in Suzuka.
rfs
10th October 2010, 3:38
What’s the potential penalty for Hamilton if the stewards say he blocked Hulkenberg? If its just one grid slot it won’t make much difference would it?
AK
10th October 2010, 5:35
10 place grid drop, isn’t it? I think that has been the penalty for blocking all season.
Mike
10th October 2010, 6:50
Generally Williams let things go, So I guess they should be right on that one.
F1Fan
10th October 2010, 3:39
Kubica is in the top-5 drivers of this year’s grid, no doubt about it. One more poor start for Webber, and both Kubica and Alonso will jump him.
Rahim RG
10th October 2010, 3:40
Yea i think Hulkenberg Just Couldn’t improve due to Hamilton in front he was already a second slow in 1st Sector…
Dorian
10th October 2010, 3:41
Cracking drive from Kubica!!! What a result!!
Can’t wait to see what he does in a championship winning car!….Hope Renault make a big step forward in 2011
Frishy101 (@frishy101)
10th October 2010, 3:57
Hamilton under investigation for blocking Hulkenberg during Q3 according to espnf1.
http://en.espnf1.com/japan/motorsport/story/30720.html
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
10th October 2010, 4:10
Well to add to that it’s reported that Lewis has an ear infection as well.
He’s having one rough weekend.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
10th October 2010, 4:30
Any news on Schumacher ALonso incident in Q1?
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
10th October 2010, 4:29
A good session, first what was going on between Schumacher & Alonso in Q1, will Schumi be penalize for that? I understand he was on his flying lap while Alonso was on his warm-up lap.Bad for Ferrari as they needed him to perform here, the car understeer a lot in those slow corners I wonder with the lack of running in FP3 played a part.The race will be interesting as not only we have the 5 title contender but we too also have the Williams who looks strong & with them Kubica who can upset some today.
My top 3 two Red Bulls whoever gets a good start & Alonso P3.
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
10th October 2010, 4:36
Vettel has had (is this his 8th?) poles and 2 wins this season and 3 FL’s. Not a very good job of converting those poles into victories.
Alonso has had 2 poles and 4 victories, and has set FL 4 times.
Yes the RB is quick but I’m going for the race pace of the Ferrari to win this one.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
10th October 2010, 4:41
Yep this is his eighth pole in 16 races this year.
Anagh
10th October 2010, 4:37
watz with Force Indiaz bad performance? Some time ago they were really good? and they were supsd to introduce new parts? What hapnd there?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
10th October 2010, 4:40
Two and a half hours before the start of the race there’s a thin but growing band of showers heading towards the circuit. Remains to be seen when and if they might hit the track.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
10th October 2010, 4:43
The official website is claim that there will be thunderstorm at the time of the race, we still may have the last piece of drama left this weekend.
rfs
10th October 2010, 5:08
You have to be kidding me! This is going to be magnificent! :D
Gucha
10th October 2010, 5:41
AAAAABSOLUTELY FAAAANTASTIC! I would say. =)
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
10th October 2010, 5:13
Senna and Sato to pilot a pair of JPS liveried Lotus around Suzuka. :)
5LiveF1 BBC 5Live F1 Team
Gorgeous machinery!! http://yfrog.com/jw26owj
Jim
10th October 2010, 5:25
According to 5LiveF1 no penalty for Hamilton for impeding Hulkenburg.
http://twitter.com/#!/5LiveF1
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
10th October 2010, 5:27
Whitmarsh explains the decision as to why Macca didn’t make the free gearbox change for Hamilton.
Well that came back to bite them on the ….
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87359
DaveW
10th October 2010, 5:48
I don’t really get their logic about trying to stretch the gearbox switch. Isn’t a team allowed to switch out a gearbox due to accident damage?