Sebastian Vettel demolished Fernando Alonso's Formula 1 world championship lead by dominating the Japanese Grand Prix as the points leader retired in a first-lap crash.
The reigning champion is now just four points behind with five races to go, and has momentum on his side after back to back victories.
The Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
53 laps, 307.471km, Weather: Sunny.
Classified:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1h28:56.242
2. Felipe Massa Ferrari + 20.639
3. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber + 24.538
4. Jenson Button McLaren + 25.098
5. Lewis Hamilton McLaren + 46.490
6. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus + 50.424
7. Nico Hulkenberg Force India + 51.159
8. Pastor Maldonado Williams + 52.364
9. Mark Webber Red Bull + 54.675
10. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso + 1:06.919
11. Michael Schumacher Mercedes AMG + 1:07.769
12. Paul Di Resta Force India + 1:23.460
13. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso + 1:28.645
14. Bruno Senna Williams + 1:28.709
15. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham + 1 lap
16. Timo Glock Marussia + 1 lap
17. Vitaly Petrov Caterham + 1 lap
18. Pedro De la Rosa HRT + 1 lap
19. Romain Grosjean Lotus + 2 laps
Fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel - 1:35.774
Not classified/retirements:
Driver Team On lap
C.Pic Marussia 39
N.Karthikeyan HRT 34
S.Perez Sauber 19
F.Alonso Ferrari 1
N.Rosberg Mercedes 1
After 15 races:
Drivers: Constructors:
1. F.Alonso 194 1. Red Bull 325
2. S.Vettel 190 2. McLaren 283
3. K.Raikkonen 157 3. Ferrari 263
4. L.Hamilton 152 4. Lotus 239
5. M.Webber 135 5. Mercedes AMG 136
6. J.Button 131 6. Sauber 115
7. N.Rosberg 93 7. Force India 81
8. R.Grosjean 82 8. Williams 58
9. F.Massa 69 9. Toro Rosso 15
10. S.Perez 65
11. K.Kobayashi 50
12. P.Di Resta 44
13. M.Schumacher 43
14. N.Hulkenberg 37
15. P.Maldonado 33
16. B.Senna 25
17. J.Vergne 8
18. D.Ricciardo 7
