Japan 2011 - Qualifying results - Red Bull known McLaren from the top spot in Suzuka
Published by Christine
Sebastian Vettel secured Red Bull's fifteenth pole position this season, but it was a close run thing as Jenson Button vied for the top grid spot and only just missed out. Further back, it was Nico Rosberg who dropped out in Q1 thanks to hydraulic issues, starting way down the order. Kobayashi just managed to squeeze into the top ten, pleasing the home crowd.
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull | 1:30.466 | 14 |
| 2 | Jenson Button | McLaren | 1:30.475 | 14 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren | 1:30.617 | 14 |
| 4 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:30.804 | 15 |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1:30.886 | 13 |
| 6 | Mark Webber | Red Bull | 1:31.156 | 14 |
| 7 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber | No Time | 15 |
| 8 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | No Time | 10 |
| 9 | Bruno Senna | Renault | No Time | 12 |
| 10 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | No Time | 17 |
| 11 | Adrian Sutil | Force India | 1:32.463 | 14 |
| 12 | Paul di Resta | Force India | 1:32.746 | 10 |
| 13 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams | 1:33.079 | 13 |
| 14 | Pastor Maldonado | Williams | 1:33.224 | 14 |
| 15 | Sébastien Buemi | Toro Rosso | 1:33.227 | 10 |
| 16 | Jaime Alguersuari | Toro Rosso | 1:33.427 | 10 |
| 17 | Sergio Pérez | Sauber | No Time | 6 |
| 18 | Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus | 1:35.454 | 3 |
| 19 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus | 1:35.514 | 6 |
| 20 | Jérôme D'Ambrosio | Virgin | 1:36.439 | 8 |
| 21 | Timo Glock | Virgin | 1:36.507 | 7 |
| 22 | Daniel Ricciardo | HRT | 1:37.846 | 7 |
| 23 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | No Time | 1 |
| 24 | Tonio Liuzzi | HRT | No Time | 2 |
