Nico Rosberg beat Lewis Hamilton to pole for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix as Mercedes returned to form in qualifying.
It was the German’s first pole since the Spanish Grad Prix four months ago. Hamilton was denied the chance to make a final attempt on Rosberg’s time following a bad crash near the chicane by Red Bull’s Daniel Kvyat, which brought an early end to Q3. Kvyat was unhurt.
Rosberg, who is 41 points behind Hamilton with six race remaining said it was the kind of performance the car deserved after a trying time in Singapore.
“I’m very happy. It was a great day and a good comeback for the team after a difficult weekend. It’s a great car. We’ve turned things round. I nailed my laps today. I’m pleased with the way it went and I’m in a great position for tomorrow.”
Rosberg won pole here last year before being beaten by Hamilton in a wet race. He added: “Hopefully it will be a dry race tomorrow. That will help. I didn’t struggle in the rain last year but I struggled on the inter tyre.
“I was really comfortable with the way the car handled today. Suzuka is the ultimate track and to have a good car here is awesome.”
Hamilton has won 11 out of 14 poles this season but has missed out on the last two.
“The first lap I lost a bit of time in Turn 11 and in the last corner. Nico is driving well this weekend,” he said. “I felt pretty good on that last lap but the main thing is that Kvyat is OK.”
Valtteri Bottas qualified third, just under four tenths behind Hamilton, with Sebastian Vettel – winner of the last race in Singapore – fourth.
For the second race weekend in a row McLaren’s Jenson Button failed to make it to Q2. Team-mate Fernando Alonso did, but then failed to get through to the top ten shoot-out.
A disappointed Button, who has been tempted by thoughts of retiring from F1 at the end of the season, said afterwards:
“They didn’t tell me what setting to be in at the start of the lap. In the last half of the lap I didn’t have any deployment. We can’t make mistakes like this.”
