Sebastian Vettel on pole at Suzuka

It was finally the sun that greeted the drivers for the qualifying session, after a Friday full of showers. Vitantonio Liuzzi sets the first time but it is above all Sébastien Buemi which is expected. Very fast in the morning, the Swiss is ready to fight to reach Q3. But he attacks too quickly and makes a mistake, crashing his rear wing into a wall of tires. It is therefore the other “hero” of the morning, Jarno Trulli, who places himself at the forefront (1:31??810).

Sebastian Vettel For a moment he steals the best time but the Italian takes it back immediately (1:31:080). But the German is in good shape and proves it, improving twice (1:30??979 then 1:30??883). His time will no longer be beaten and the drivers at the end of the ranking will not be able to place themselves higher. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari), Kazuki Nakajima (Williams), Romain Grosjean (Renault) and Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India) are therefore eliminated and join Mark Webber, who did not take part in the session due to his exit during the third free practice session.

The second phase of the session will be much more chaotic. Kimi Räikkönen sets the first time (1:31:195), before Jaime Alguersuari seriously makes a mistake. The red flag is waved and the drivers remain in their box. Meanwhile, the medical staff helps the Spanish driver out of his seat, before the restart is given.

Jarno Trulli prend le meilleur temps (1?30??787) mais, alors que les autres pilotes n?ont pas fait de chrono, son coéquipier Timo Glock part également à la faute. A la sortie de la chicane, le pilote Toyota tire tout droit et s?encastre dans le mur de pneus. Cette fois-ci, le corps médical reste plus longtemps afin de sortir le pilote de son cockpit et le placer sur civière. Après des nouvelles rassurantes sur son état de santé, le restart est donné.

Lewis Hamilton demonstrates the qualities of his car and achieved the best time (1:30??627), before Sebastian Vettel again moved to the top of the list (1:30??341), with the best time of the weekend. Most of the drivers were unable to improve and the last minute of Q2 was decisive. But Sébastien Buemi thwarts the plans of some of his colleagues by rubbing his car against the protective walls. He lost his front wing and caused the yellow flag to come out. However, a few drivers achieved their fast lap and the five eliminated were Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso, Robert Kubica, Timo Glock and Jaime Alguersuari.

In Q3, we expect a frank explanation between several big names? but also the reaction of the Brawn GP drivers, very discreet until then. However, the increase in track temperature should suit the single-seaters of Brackley, often not to their advantage on cold slopes. But the session was once again interrupted due to a trip off the track. This time it's Heikki Kovalainen who goes to rub the tires at the exit of turn seven.

After the restart following the interruption, Sebastian Vettel returned to the front (1:32??160), Jarno Trulli managing to place himself in second position (1:32??220). Most drivers only complete one fast lap and some fail to compete with the drivers on the podium. Lewis Hamilton takes third place ahead of Adrian Sutil and Rubens Barrichello. As in Singapore, the Brazilian will start, on the grid, just in front of his teammate, seventh in Q3.

If Sebastian Vettel only has a slim chance of preventing Jenson Button from being world champion, the German has given himself the best chance of believing in his possibilities. The German will be able to see things more clearly after the Suzuka race.