Vettel on pole, against all odds

F1 Grand Prix, GP Japan, Circuit Suzuka

Against all expectations, Sebastian Vettel has secured yet another pole position after seemingly struggling through earlier practices. Jenson Button put his McLaren into second place, while Lewis Hamilton missed out on his final flying lap and start from third.

Jarno Trulli is the first man on track in this qualifying session for the Japanese GP. Under sunny skies he sets a 1:36.571, a time still 4 seconds off of Button's Saturday morning pace.

2 minutes later, the track is burbling with activity. The Red Bulls are the first to take the lead, only to be topped by Alonso 30 seconds later. Button quickly goes second fastest, whereas Lewis Hamilton goes 6th at the session's halfway mark.

With tyre wear likely to be a worry around Suzuka, the top drivers are all on the prime tyre and all look safe after just one flying lap to make it through to Q2. Contrary to Red Bull, the McLarens and Ferraris all attempt another flying lap on the same tyre set, but apart from Hamilton, nobody really moves forward because of that.

7 minutes from the end, Rosberg hasn't gone out yet due to a technical problem which the Mercedes GP team are trying to get resolved in time. Bruno Senna also didn't set a time, his team struggling to get the front suspension fixed after the Brazilian crashed off his left front during FP3.

4 minutes from the end, Liuzzi emerges on track for the first time this session after having endured hydraulic problems during FP3.

The closing stage of FP1 sees everybody return to the track, except Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes GP. All drivers running have taken the option tyres and are therefore now massively faster than they were in their first runs.

Due to the tyres, Kobayashi then suddenly emerges atop the timesheet, ahead of Sutil. They are however the only two who manage to top Alonso's time, set on prime tyres. Senna also easily made it through, doing just a single flying lap in Q1.

This puts out Trulli, D'Ambrosio, Glock, Ricciardo, Rosberg and Liuzzi.

Q2 is destined to get interesting with Red Bull, McLaren and Alonso all out on track right from the green light. All of them taking on option tyres. 3 minutes later Hamilton finds himself ahead, a tenth quicker than Button in FP3 and now ahead of Vettel, Button, Webber and Alonso.

Again, nobody is running more than they really need to, and 3 minutes from the end we only see cars back on track who are unsure yet of getting through to Q3. That leaves out Buemi, Alguersuari and Pérez though. Toro Rosso decided to save tyres while Sergio Pérez' Sauber is in trouble with hydraulic problems.

Both Renaults at the end made it through to Q3 while home driver Kobayashi finished the top ten to get through. It eliminates Sutil, Di Resta, Barrichello, Maldonado, Alguersuari and Pérez.

Q3 is set to be rather quiet, and by the halfway mark only 6 drivers have set a time. Lewis Hamilton went fastest, ahead of Button, Vettel, Webber and Massa. Alonso cut off his flying lap after going off in spoon curve.

Kobayashi by now has come out on track on prime tyres and returned to the pit right away. He thereby set some sectors which will certainly put him ahead of any car not running during this session.

Fortunately, the top 6 came out on track again.

Hamilton didn't complete his flying lap, along with Michael Schumacher. They came close one towards another and while trying to make some room for their flying laps, they ran out of time and immediately drove into the pitlane.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel was taking everything out of his Red Bull RB7 and stuck his nose in front once more, against all odds. Jenson Button came short just 0.009s of a second.