German ace Sebastian Vettel snatched pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix Saturday as he closes on back-to-back Formula One world titles.

The Red Bull driver, who was dominated the season and needs just one point to reclaim his driver's crown, timed quickest in qualifying ahead of McLaren duo Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, who will start second and third.

They will be followed by Massa and Alonso in the Ferraris, Mark Webber in the sister Red Bull,  Michael Schumacher (Mercedes),  Bruno Senna and Vitaly Petrov (Lotus-Renault) Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber-Ferrari) rounding off the top ten.

Rosberg, in the second Mercedes, starts near the back after a hydraulic problem.

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