Sebastian Vettel wins Japanese GP to cut the gap on Jenson Button

Jenson ButtonJenson Button could have won the Formula One drivers’ championship on this gorgeous afternoon at Suzuka but he would have had to finish fourth in the Japanese Grand Pix and other results go his way. But after a chaotic qualifying session on Saturday and a complex administration of grid penalties for safety infringements by Button and four others, this was never likely. In the event, and after yet another unconvincing performance, the Brawn GP driver could finish only eighth as his uncertain journey to his dream continued.

The race saw Red Bull’s Sebastian VettelSebastian Vettel in untouchable form in a car which was in a class of its own. The German started from pole and was utterly dominant, ahead of Jarno TrulliJarno Trulli in the Toyota and Lewis HamiltonLewis Hamilton in the McLaren Mercedes. On the circuit the drivers enjoy most, the contest was a disappointment with little incident or overtaking on show and drivers making gains mainly through pit-stops.

In the closing stages, however, the young Toro Rosso pilot, Jaime Alguersuari, threw the outcome into doubt when he had a massive crash at the circuit’s most famous and fastest corner, known as 130R, ten laps from the finish. The Spaniard lost control on a new set of tyres and his car went into a spin at 185mph, then obliterated an advertising hording before taking off and flying into the tyre barrier. It is yet another tribute to the extraordinary safety standards in Formula One that the 19-year-old rookie escaped unhurt.

The accident brought out the safety car and, by the time the debris had been cleared, there were just four laps to go to the finish, a last-gasp sprint which saw the cars tightly bunched. Vettel got away again well at the front and the rest filed in behind. Robert KubicaRobert Kubica in the BMW Sauber was hot on Button’s tail but he could find no way past and the Englishman held on for one valuable championship point.

The result in Japan, with just two races to come in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, leaves Button 14 points ahead of his Brawn team-mate, Rubens BarrichelloRubens Barrichello who finished seventh, and 16 points ahead of Vettel whose championship hopes are still very much alive.

While Button professed himself quite happy with his performance, given the hand he was dealt after qualifying, Vettel made clear that this battle is far from over.

"It can still be done," Vettel said. "It would be nice to have a couple more races left, but with two races to go, we are here to fight and the best thing we can do is win like today. We have a great car, still improving, everyone in the factory is improving so we'll see.

"The car was fantastic, I was able to get a good lap, we were longer [before pitting] than Jarno [Trulli] and Lewis [Hamilton] so it all worked out. Until the end it was all under control until I put the soft tyres on the last stint.

"I wanted a bit of fun so did one quick lap, then the engineer came on and said be careful with the tyres as there might be a safety car and then two laps later there was a safety car."

He added: "Finally we made it. In the last couple of races we were a little bit up and down. Sometimes we had the pace, sometimes we didn't, so it is good to be back in the top position on Sunday."

Barrichello is in it too and said he was looking forward to going to his home race in Brazil and winning it. "I wasn't happy with the set-up for the whole race," Barrichello said. "I was struggling with tyres. I would have finished sixth if it hadn't been for the safety car though. I'll be going happily to Brazil to win the race and keep my chances alive."

So the pressure is still on Button, even if he remains favourite to win a title that looked in the palm of his hand back in early June after he had won the Turkish Grand Prix, his sixth victory in seven starts.