Vettel leads Webber in final practice
Sebastian Vettel led a Red Bull one-two in final practice for the Japanese Grand Prix as both McLarens failed to set a representative lap time on soft tyres ahead of qualifying.
<font face='courier new'>[U]<font color='#a9a9a9'>Japanese GP</font>
<font color='#ff8c00'>Practice Session 3</font>
[/U]</font><font color='#4b0082'>Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps</font>
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m32.136 16
2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m32.371s + 0.235 19
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m32.824s + 0.688 12
4. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m32.918s + 0.782 22
5. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m32.920s + 0.784 18
6. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m32.924s + 0.788 14
7. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m33.008s + 0.872 20
8. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m33.025s + 0.889 15
9. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m33.094s + 0.958 16
10. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m33.160s + 1.024 15
11. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m33.184s + 1.048 13
12. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m33.224s + 1.088 14
13. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m33.56$s + 1.433 13
14. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m33.722s + 1.586 17
15. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m33.899s + 1.763 22
16. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m33.984s + 1.848 18
17. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m34.023s + 1.887 18
18. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m34.369s + 2.233 11
19. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m35.568s + 3.432 18
20. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m36.355s + 4.219 17
21. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m36.389s + 4.253 11
22. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m36.517s + 4.381 17
23. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m36.649s + 4.513 11
24. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m36.875s + 4.739 15
Vettel heads Red Bull lockout
Sebastian Vettel took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix as Red Bull locked out the front row at Suzuka.
<font face='courier new'>[U]<font color='#a9a9a9'>Japanese GP</font>
<font color='#ff8c00'>Qualifying Session
</font>[/U]</font><font color='#4b0082'>Pos Driver Team Time Gap </font>
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m30.839s
2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m31.090s + 0.251
3. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m31.294s + 0.451
4. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m31.700s + 0.861
5. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m31.989s + 1.059
6. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m32.022s + 1.183
7. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m32.114s + 1.275
8. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m32.208s + 1.369
9. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m32.327s + 1.488
10. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes no time
<font color='#4b0082'>Q2 cut-off time: 1m32.272s Gap **</font>
11. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m32.293s + 0.792
12. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m32.327s + 0.826
13. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m32.469s + 0.968
14. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m32.512s + 1.011
15. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m32.625s + 1.124
16. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m32.954s + 1.453
17. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m33.368s + 1.867
<font color='#4b0082'>Q1 cut-off time: 1m33.370s Gap *</font>
18. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m33.405s + 1.376
19. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m34.657s + 2.628
20. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m35.213s + 3.184
21. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m35.385s + 3.356
22. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m35.429s + 3.400
23. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m35.432s + 3.403
24. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m36.734s + 4.705
<font color='#008000'>107% time: 1m38.471s
</font><font color='#800080'>* Gap to quickest in Q1 ** Gap to quickest in Q2</font>
RB8 'feels fantastic' - Vettel
Sebastian Vettel described his car as "fantastic" after securing pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Button admits McLaren 'just not quick enough'
Jenson Button admits McLaren was "just not quick enough" to challenge Red Bull for pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Kobayashi eyeing podium at Suzuka
Kamui Kobayashi is hoping to turn his third place grid position into a podium at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
Perez insists car was capable of even more
Sergio Perez says he did not get the maximum out of the Sauber despite qualifying in sixth place for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Vettel reprimanded for blocking Alonso
Sebastian Vettel has been given a reprimand after qualifying for blocking Fernando Alonso at the end of Q3.
Front row lockout a 'great tonic' for Red Bull - Webber
Mark Webber said Red Bull's first front row lockout of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix was just what his team needed as it prepares for the run in to the end of the season.
Hamilton laments 'big mistake' with set-up
Lewis Hamilton admits that "a big mistake" with set-up has left him uncompetitive after qualifying ninth for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Alonso confident in Ferrari race pace
Fernando Alonso says Ferrari will be more competitive in race trim than he was in qualifying at Suzuka after setting a time over a second off the pace for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Car was quick enough for fourth - Raikkonen
Kimi Raikkonen believes he could have qualified fourth had he not spun off during Q3 at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Grosjean encouraged by qualifying performance
Romain Grosjean is confident he can have a good race in the Japanese Grand Prix after exceeding expectations in qualifying.
Schumacher expecting tough race
Michael Schumacher is preparing himself for a difficult race from 23rd on the grid after Mercedes struggled for pace during qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Wind tunnel correlation hurting development - Ferrari
Ferrari has admitted a correlation problem with its wind tunnel is affecting Fernando Alonso's title bid and that it will shut down the facility at some point in the future to improve it.
Schumacher 'held up by Hamilton'
Michael Schumacher suggested that getting held up by Lewis Hamilton had cost him a place in Q3 and consigned him to a back row starting position for Sunday's Grand Prix.
Cosworth working on 2014 engine 'for 18 months'
Cosworth still hopes to join Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault in producing a new F1 engine to 2014 regulations.
Marussia still 'has mountain to climb'
Team boss John Booth admits that, while it celebrated reaching tenth place in the constructors' standings, the Marussia squad wants more from its F1 programme.
McLaren gearbox problem 'won't crop up again'
McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe is confident that the problem that sidelined Lewis Hamilton in Singapore has been rectified ahead of this weekend's Japanese GP.
Brawn: Hiring Hamilton brings no extra pressure
Ross Brawn insists that Lewis Hamilton signing for Mercedes does not increase the expectations already existing within the team.
Schumacher late show confines Senna to Q1 exit
Michael Schumacher survived opening qualifying at the Japanese GP by the skin of his teeth - but that was bad news for Bruno Senna.
Telmex to continue as Sauber sponsor
Sauber has no concerns about its major Mexican sponsors leaving the team now that Sergio Perez has signed a deal to drive for McLaren in 2013.
Massa misses out in Q2 shuffle
Felipe Massa was pushed out of qualifying for the Japanese GP, joining both Mercedes on the sidelines after Q2.
Pirelli adjusting approach to tyres for 2013
Tyre manufacturer Pirelli has revealed that it intends to change almost all the compounds in its F1 tyre line-up for 2013 in an attempt to reduce criticism of the current narrow working range.
de la Rosa delighted with qualifying result
HRT driver Pedro de le Rosa was delighted to escape the back row of the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix, after he beat Charles Pic and Vitaly Petrov in qualifying.
Sauber in no rush to name 2013 line-up
Sauber will not rush to appoint Esteban Gutierrez as replacement for Sergio Perez, despite having Mexican sponsors to appease.
Hulkenberg rues self-inflicted gearbox penalty
Nico Hulkenberg made it through to Q3 during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix, but knew going in that his mistake in the morning FP3 session would cost him five grid places.
Frustrating day of setbacks for Williams duo
Qualifying for the Japanese GP just didn't quite come together for Williams drivers Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado, in what proved to be a frustrating day for the team at Suzuka.
Vergne explains Q1 'block' on Senna
Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne explained that his encounter with Bruno Senna near the end of Q1 where he appeared to block the Williams was the result of coming up behind slower cars.
Vergne penalised three places for impeding Senna
Jean-Eric Vergne has been handed a grid penalty for the Japanese Grand Prix, putting him into the company of Nico Hulkenberg, Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher for Sunday's race.