McLaren's Jenson Button led both practice sessions for the Japanese grand prix today, but in an ominous signs for all other teams, Red Bull showed the best long-run pace.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, who only needs a point from Sunday's race to win his second championship,  dramatically crashed out in first practice. He was third in second practice after Button and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

The German speared into the wall at turn nine in the final minute of opening practice, but he was unhurt in the smash. 

Button, who sits second in the championship and trails the German by 124 points, needs to win the final five races of the season and have Vettel not finish better than 10th in any Grand Prix to deny him the title.

Vettel's car sustained only minor damage in the nose-first plunge into the barriers, with Red Bull expected to set a new front wing assembly before the afternoon practice session.

Splitting Button and Vettel in opening practice was Briton Lewis Hamilton, the McLaren driver finishing 0.091secs behind his team-mate.

Spain’s Fernando Alonso was fourth for Ferrari, while Vettel’s team-mate, Australian Mark Webber, rounded out the top five.

Ferrari duo Alonso and Felipe Massa of Brazil were the first drivers from the top-line teams on the circuit on a sunny morning at Suzuka, but it was Webber who made the early running as he went fastest with his first timed lap. .

Second free practice times

1. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 1:31.901, 2. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 1:32.075, 3. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 1:32.095, 4. Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull 1:32.147, 5. Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1:32.448, 6. Michael Schumacher (GER) Mercedes GP 1:32.710, 7. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes GP 1:32.982, 8. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren 1:33.245, 9. Vitaly Petrov (RUS) Lotus-Renault 1:33.446, 10. Sebastien Buemi (SWI) Toro Rosso 1:33.681, 11. Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) Toro Rosso 1:33.705, 12. Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India 1:33.790, 13. Sergio Perez (MEX) Sauber 1:34.393, 14. Bruno Senna (BRA) Lotus-Renault 1:34.557, 15. Paul di Resta (SCO) Force India 1:34.601, 16. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Sauber 1:36.038, 17. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Lotus 1:36.225, 18. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Williams F1 1:37.123, 19. Timo Glock (GER) Virgin Racing 1:37.440, 20. Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL) Virgin Racing 1:38.093, 21. Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams F1 1:38.387, 22. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Hispania 1:38.763, 23. Jarno Trulli (ITA) Lotus 1:39.800, 24. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) Hispania 1:42.480

First free practice times

1. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 1:33.634, 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren 1:33.725, 3. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 1:34.090, 4. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 1:34.372, 5. Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull 1:34.426, 6. Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) Toro Rosso 1:34.937, 7. Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1:35.585, 8. Sebastien Buemi (SWI) Toro Rosso 1:35.590, 9. Michael Schumacher (GER) Mercedes 1:36.033, 10. Vitaly Petrov (RUS) Lotus-Renault 1:36.370, 11. Bruno Senna (BRA) Lotus-Renault 1:36.487, 12. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Force India 1:36.700, 13. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Sauber 1:36.948, 14. Paul di Resta (SCO) Force India 1:36.949, 15. Sergio Perez (MEX) Sauber 1:37.103, 16. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:38.197, 17. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Williams F1 1:38.331, 18. Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams F1 1:38.446, 19. Jarno Trulli (ITA) Lotus 1:39.168, 20. Karun Chandhok (IND) Lotus 1:39.946, 21. Timo Glock (GER) Virgin Racing 1:40.872, 22. Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL) Virgin Racing 1:41.019, 23. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Hispania 1:41.106, 24. Narain Karthikeyan (IND) Hispania 1:41.775

 

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