Qualifying session was postponed from Saturday to Sunday due to torrential rain.
The conditions improved dramatically and though the track was still damp in places, the weather forecast was good for the remainder of the day.
In Q1, Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time in his Red Bull Renault with a 1:32.035. he was followed by the surprising Nico Hulkenberg (Williams-Cosworth), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes GP, who completed a stunning lap during the last minute of the session), Rubens Barrichello (Williams) and Mark Webber (Red Bull). Sebastien Buemi was eliminated along with Jarno Trulli, Heikki Kovalainen, Lucas Di Grassi, Timo Glock, Bruno Senna and Sakon Yamamoto.
In Q2, Vettel went out late in the session for a second run and registered a fast time of 1:31.184 to take first place ahead of Webber, Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes), his teammate Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari). Nick Heidfeld, Felipe Massa, Vitaly Petrov, Kamui Kobayashi, Adrian Sutil, Jaime Alguiersuari and Tonio Liuzzi are eliminated.
In Q3, Vettel was again unbeatable, stopping the clock at 1:30.785 to capture pole position for the Grand Prix of Japan. His teammate Mark Webber will start second ahead of Hamilton, Robert Kubica (Renault), Alonso, Button (on hard tires, unlike all other Q3 runners), Rosberg, Barrichello, Hulkenberg and Michael Schumacher (Mercedes GP).
Hamilton will take the start from 8th place due to a gearbox change.
The conditions improved dramatically and though the track was still damp in places, the weather forecast was good for the remainder of the day.
In Q1, Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time in his Red Bull Renault with a 1:32.035. he was followed by the surprising Nico Hulkenberg (Williams-Cosworth), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes GP, who completed a stunning lap during the last minute of the session), Rubens Barrichello (Williams) and Mark Webber (Red Bull). Sebastien Buemi was eliminated along with Jarno Trulli, Heikki Kovalainen, Lucas Di Grassi, Timo Glock, Bruno Senna and Sakon Yamamoto.
In Q2, Vettel went out late in the session for a second run and registered a fast time of 1:31.184 to take first place ahead of Webber, Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes), his teammate Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari). Nick Heidfeld, Felipe Massa, Vitaly Petrov, Kamui Kobayashi, Adrian Sutil, Jaime Alguiersuari and Tonio Liuzzi are eliminated.
In Q3, Vettel was again unbeatable, stopping the clock at 1:30.785 to capture pole position for the Grand Prix of Japan. His teammate Mark Webber will start second ahead of Hamilton, Robert Kubica (Renault), Alonso, Button (on hard tires, unlike all other Q3 runners), Rosberg, Barrichello, Hulkenberg and Michael Schumacher (Mercedes GP).
Hamilton will take the start from 8th place due to a gearbox change.