Brilliant Sebastian Vettel leads Charles Leclerc in Ferrari 1-2 in Japanese Grand Prix qualifying – The Telegraph, The Telegraph

Sebastian Vettel put his Ferrari on pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion saw off team-mate Charles Leclerc by 0. 189 seconds.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton will start back in fourth, with his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas third on the grid.

Vettel finished with a lap time that was nearly two-tenths of a second quicker than his team-mate Leclerc. It is Ferrari’s fifth pole position in a row but the German’s first since Montreal earlier this year.

Mercedes, who were favorites going into qualifying, having topped the first two practice sessions, finished over two tenths behind Vettel’s pole time but within a tenth of Leclerc’s.

The first part of qualifying was twice red flagged after Robert Kubica’s Williams and then Kevin Magnussen’s Haas crashed at the final corner, heading into the pit straight. Neither man had set a lap time and they will both start from the very back, albeit a chassis change for Kubica means he will start from the pit lane.

In Q2 Mercedes were first and second but Ferrari again found pace when they needed it. Alexander Albon, who has yet to secure a seat at Red Bull for 2020, encouragingly posted exactly the same time as team-mate Max Verstappen . *****

Albon will start in sixth, behind the Dutchman, due to Verstappen setting his time first, but it was an important and impressive lap, especially given he has never driven around this track before and Suzuka is seen as one of the great “drivers’ tracks”.

After qualifying Vettel said: “It was not easy. Obviously the conditions are very different to what we had on Friday but the main thing is that the sun is out, people are happy.

“I think we’re quite surprised. We didn’t expect to have the front row lockout. I really enjoyed it.”

Leclerc, who had out-qualified Vettel nine races in a row before this, said that Vettel was difficult to beat.

“Seb did an amazing lap and he deserves to be on pole today. He was just too quick, so congratulations to him. We’re surprised but happy to be 1-2 on the grid but it’s the race that counts the most, “he said.

Final Positions after Qualifying

1. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1min 27. 064 Secs
2. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1: 27. 253

Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1: 27. 293

3. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1: 27. 302
4. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1: 27. 851
5. Alexander Albon (Tha) Red Bull 1: 27. 851

Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1: 28. 304

6. Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1: 28. 464
7. Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1: 28. 836
8. Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1: 29. 341
9. Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1: 29. 254
10. Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1: 29. 345
11. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1: 29. 358
12. Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1: 29. 563
13. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1: 30. 112

Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1: 29. 822

14. Sergio Perez (Mex) Racing Point 1: 30. 344
15. George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1: 30. 364 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 No Time Set

Robert Kubica (Pol) Williams No Time Set