Currently reading: Sebastian Vettel wins Japanese GP
Sebastian Vettel wins from Webber, Alonso, Button and Hamilton

Sebastian Vettel has won the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka after starting from pole position.

The Red Bull driver had the pace to beat team mate Mark Webber both in the qualifying session in the morning – postponed from a washed out Saturday – and in the race during the afternoon.

See pictures from the 2010 Japanese Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso finished in a lonely third place after sometimes lapping considerably slower than the flying Red Bulls. Both the McLarens had dramatic races with Jenson Button finishing in fourth and Lewis Hamilton finishing in fifth.

See Autocar's ongoing picture review of the 2010 F1 season

A chaotic start to the race saw Lucas di Grassi crash out on his way to the grid and four cars – including Felipe Massa and Vitaly Petrov – retire from the race before the second corner.

But the drama at the start wasn't yet over as Robert Kubica – who had moved into second place due to another slow start by Webber – lost his right rear wheel during the ensuing safety car period.

The Red Bulls bolted after the safety car, lapping over a second quicker than third placed Alonso.

Hamilton was the first of those at the front to pit. He had spent the first stint behind Button who was much slower because he started on the harder tyres.

Once Hamilton had pitted, he put in a series of storming laps that meant he would likely clear Button when he stopped. Vettel and Alonso responded and pitted on the same lap, quickly followed by Webber.

At this stage, Button led the race, but it wouldn't be for long. He just didn't have enough pace, and was only a few seconds ahead of the Red Bulls anyhow.

After Button pitted for soft tyres he quickly caught Hamilton – who had slowed with a broken third gear – but never had the pace to challenge third place Alonso.

Michael Schumacher put in a good drive to finish sixth for Mercedes after team mate Nico Rosberg retired when the left rear wheel fell off his car.

Kamui Kobayashi finished seventh after passing at least five cars at the hairpin in dramatic moves, while Sauber team mate Nick Heidfeld finished in eighth.

Rubens Barrichello in the Williams and Sebastian Buemi in the Toro Rosso completed the points positions.

Andrew Papworth

Provisional race results

Japanese Grand Prix; Suzuka, Japan; 53 laps; 307.573km

1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1h30:27.3232. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 0.9053. Alonso Ferrari + 2.7214. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 13.5225. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 39.5956. Schumacher Mercedes + 59.9337. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 1:04:0388. Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari + 1:09.6489. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 1:10.84610. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1:12.80611. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1 lap12. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth + 1 lap13. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth + 2 laps14. Glock Virgin-Cosworth + 2 laps15. Senna HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps16. Yamamoto + 3 laps17. Rosberg Mercedes + 5 laps

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Fastest lap: Webber, 1:33.474

Not classified/retirements:

Sutil Force India-MercedesKubica Renault Hulkenberg Williams-CosworthMassa Ferrari Petrov Renault Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes Di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth

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feckin maso 11 October 2010

Re: Sebastian Vettel wins Japanese GP

Vettel got pole and the win but still feel kobayashi was the driver of the day

FastRenaultFan 10 October 2010

Re: Sebastian Vettel wins Japanese GP

Uncle Mellow wrote:
and nice commentary team today.Do the Commonwealth Games go on until after the Korean GP ? I hope so.

Ha lol indeed was a nice sight all right . Lets hope so . Such a pity that Kubica,s wheel came off he had a great start and could have done good . Hard luck too Massa too . Kamui Kobayashi had a great race drove superb great overtaking manovoures whatever big team he gets signed up to will have a series contender and possible champion whenever it happens . Lewis done well to get his car home without third gear . Micheal Schumacher drove great yo like the Schumacher we all know he can be more off this and a better car and he really could do well next year and he did not nearly take anyone out unlike Alguersuari what was he at attacking Kamui when he was basically past him .
Uncle Mellow 10 October 2010

Re: Sebastian Vettel wins Japanese GP

Media coverage today seemed to be all about Hamiltons' title hopes. It is as if the media hasn't heard of current champion Jensen Button.

I think the Gods are still smiling on Mark Webber , so he is likely to take the championship this time. Nice for Vettel to convert pole into a victory for a change, and nice commentary team today.Do the Commonwealth Games go on until after the Korean GP ? I hope so.