Japan 2009: Qualifying Result
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Japan 2009: Qualifying Result

Oliver White
3rd October, 2009
10 comments
4 min read

In a difficult session that saw Mark Webber not take part and several red flags caused by drivers going off-track, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel has triumphed in taking pole position for tomorrow’s race. The first of the day’s incidents actually took place in the third practice session prior to qualifying, when Mark Webber ploughed his RB5 into the barrier at the second Degner Curve. Although unhurt in the accident, the car was badly damaged and forced the Australian to sit out of qualifying. Webber is expected to start the race from the pitlane.

Vitantonio Liuzzi also endured a troubled start to the weekend with a gear box change, prompting a five-grid slot penalty. Although having only qualified ahead of Webber, the punishment will see no change of grid position for the Italian unless he decides to also start from the pitlane.

The first incident during qualifying came from Scuderia Toro Rosso pilot Jaime Alguersuari. Again at the Degner Curves, Alguersuari ran wide on his entry and hit the barriers. Although the Spaniard had to be assisted from the car, it was later announced Jaime was unhurt and cleared to race tomorrow.

The second of the red flags to be posted was in result to Timo Glock having a sizable accident coming out of the final chicane. The Toyota pilot skated of the gravel and smashed into the barriers, causing not only a red flag but the medical car to be in attendance as well. Timo suffered a cut leg and complained of back pain after being extricated from the TF109. As a precaution, Glock has been airlifted to hospital, but scans have apparently shown there is no serious damage to the driver. Toyota have stated they will make a decision early Sunday morning as to whether or not Glock would race (if cleared by the FIA). Test driver Kamui Kobayashi, who stood in for Glock during practice as the German driver is also recovering from a fever, is on stand-by to deputise again but the Japanese driver’s inclusion would require all other teams to unanimously agree to it.

Not escaping moments themselves, Sebastien Buemi also crashed in the second session which meant that although the Swiss pilot had made it through to Q3, could not set a time. Heikki Kovalainen also suffered incident after he too felt the magnetic force of the Degner tyre barrier.

And so after a hectic session at the returning Suzuka circuit, Sebastian Vettel has taken pole position from Jarno Trulli and Lewis Hamilton. Adrian Sutil managed a great fourth place while Rubens Barrichello helps his championship cause by out-qualifying team mate Jenson Button, fifth to seventh respectively. Sebastien Buemi placed his Scuderia Toro Rosso in tenth despite failing to set a lap in Q3 and Nick Heidfeld continues BMW’s renaissance by qualifying in sixth.

Singapore 2009
Qualifying Results

Q1
20 minutes

Q2
15 minutes

Q3
10 minutes
1. German FlagSebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing 1m30.883s 1m30.341s 1m32.160s
2. Italian FlagJarno Trulli Toyota 1m31.063s 1m30.737s 1m32.220s
3. British FlagLewis Hamilton McLaren 1m30.917s 1m30.627s 1m32.395s
4. German FlagAdrian Sutil Force India 1m31.386s 1m31.222s 1m32.466s
5. Brazilian FlagRubens Barrichello Brawn 1m31.272s 1m31.055s 1m32.660s
6. German FlagNick Heidfeld BMW 1m31.501s 1m31.260s 1m32.945s
7. British FlagJenson Button Brawn 1m31.041s 1m30.880s 1m32.962s
8. Finnish FlagKimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m31.288s 1m31.052s 1m32.980s
9. Finnish FlagHeikki Kovalainen McLaren 1m31.499s 1m31.223s No Time
10. Swiss FlagSebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1m31.196s 1m31.103s No Time
11. German FlagNico Rosberg Williams 1m31.286s 1m31.482s
12. Spanish FlagFernando Alonso Renault 1m31.401s 1m31.638s
13. Polish FlagRobert Kubica BMW 1m31.417s 1m32.341s
14. German FlagTimo Glock Toyota 1m31.550s No Time
15. Spanish FlagJaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso 1m31.571s No Time
16. Italian FlagGiancarlo Fisichella Ferrari 1m31.704s
17. Japanese FlagKazuki Nakajima Williams 1m31.718s
18. French FlagRomain Grosjean Renault 1m32.073s
19. Italian FlagVitantonio Liuzzi Force India 1m32.087s
20. Australian FlagMark Webber Red Bull Racing No Time

10 comments

  • It will be interesting to see how much fuel everybody is carrying. Lewis did not expect to be very competitive, but found himself on the second row. Vettle is going to be very difficult to beat!

  • Looks like the potential to crash or be involved in someone elses crash will extend the fight for the Drivers Championship. Jensen let himself get into a vulnerable posistion. Seems like many of the cars are running right at the edge of their maximum potential, that point where you either look real good or are explaining what happened. Tomorrow might become a “wreckem rodeo”.

  • I can’t see anyone disputing Kobayashi’s admission to the grid should Timo be stuck in hospital tomorrow (unless Williams are stuck in “veto everything for the sake of it” mode). He didn’t disgrace himself in Friday practise and is unlikely to be a safety hazard to anyone. Kamui may well think it’s Christmas if this happens though – how often does a driver go to their home race as a substitute and finishes up doing two-and-a-bit* sessions which happen to include the race?

    * – I can’t count second practise on Friday as a whole session. Sorry.

  • You need to check the facts, there are about 5-6 drivers who are being assessed 5 grid spot penalties including Button, Rubens and Alonso. The “official” grid will be published Sunday morning Japan time.

  • You need to check the facts

    You need to read what I wrote, maybe check the timestamp and see the following two posts written by my fair fingers. 🙂

  • You need to read what I wrote, maybe check the timestamp and see the following two posts written by my fair fingers. 🙂 {Ollie – 2 comments ago}

    It was very useful – it meant I had somewhere to link to from my blog entry explaining how I thought the grid would be derived that I knew wouldn’t change (because the changes were recorded elsewhere).

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