Formula One news
Vettel on pole in Japan
03 October 2009 / Results / PhotosSebastian Vettel has topped a highly dramatic and highly delayed qualifying session at Suzuka to start from the front of the grid for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver will be joined on the front row by Jarno Trulli with Champion Lewis Hamilton third. Brawn drivers Barrichello and Button start fifth and seventh.
With only three rounds remaining in the 2009 World Championship including this weekend's meeting in Japan, Jenson Button and his Brawn GP team are able to wrap up both titles at Suzuka this weekend. However, the former looks particularly unlikely following a qualifying session which was eventually delayed by over 20 minutes.
With Q1 placing the slowest five drivers in grid slots 16 to 20, the drama came before the qualifying hour had even begun as Mark Webber and Red Bull pulled out following a Practice 3 accident; after suffering a crash at the Degner Curves, the Australian's crew is hurrying to put together a brand-new chassis in time for Sunday's race.
Vitantonio Liuzzi takes a 5-place grid drop due to a gearbox change but, having qualified 19th, will effectively suffer no pain from the penalty. It was a disappointing day for Renault rookie Romain Grosjean, who will start 18th behind a disappointed Giancarlo Fisichella's Ferrari and local man Kazuki Nakajima for Williams; Fisichella pointed to a lack of dry practice time as a reason for his early demise.
It was in Q2, however, when things began to be turned upside down in typical 'Suzuka Surprise' fashion. With both Toro Rossos quick this weekend, Sébastien Buemi narrowly avoided an accident at Degner although it was Spanish team-mate Jaime Alguersuari who slammed into the barriers to bring out the red flags; thankfully, the 19-year-old walked away unaided despite ripping off both front wheels.
The biggest shock of the weekend came at the restart, though, as Timo Glock's Toyota understeered onto the grass before connecting head-on with the barriers at approximate speeds of 150 miles per hour at the top of the start/finish straight. With the session being halted for a second time, the German was airlifted to hospital with what has been described as a 'wound' to his left leg - Timo is therefore likely to miss Sunday's race on what is the Toyota team's home weekend.
A delayed Q2 came to an exciting close as Buemi lost control of the second Toro Rosso to slide down the barrier on the exit of Spoon Curve; with the front wing lying in the middle of the race track, subsequent yellow flags confirmed that Rosberg, Alonso and Kubica would start 11th, 12th and 13th; Rubens Barrichello could also be under investigation after passing through to Q3 will a last-gasp hot lap under yellow flag conditions.
With Buemi's car damaged, the Swiss driver sat out for the rest of the session despite successfully passing through to the final Q3 phase. Also out was Heikki Kovalainen's McLaren after sliding broadside into the barriers at Degner - following an earlier 360 degree spin - to bring out the third and final red flag of the afternoon.
With only 6 minutes to go, the session was restarted as eight drivers contended for pole position. Vettel eventually set the benchmark at 1:32.160 as Jarno Trulli - who was fastest in final practice this morning - gave the home fans something to shout about by planting the Toyota in second place.
Lewis Hamilton, winner of last weekend's night race in Singapore, will head the second row from a quiet Adrian Sutil's Force India as Nick Heidfeld and Kimi Räikkönen line up 6th and 8th; next to the former Sauber team-mates are the championship-leading Brawn cars of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button, 5th and 7th respectively.
Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix promises to be highly exciting, with Sebastian Vettel well-placed to maintain a championship attack. The red lights will go out at 2pm local time (BST +8 / GMT +9).
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