Vettel best in Japan, revives title drive

SUZUKA, Japan – Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel led from start to finish to win Formula One’s Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, reviving his championship hopes.

Vettel finished ahead of Toyota’s Jarno Trulli and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton at Suzuka. Drivers’ championship leader Jenson Button of Brawn GP was eighth, a place below teammate Rubens Barrichello.

Brawn GP all but sealed the constructors’ championship. Only a one-two finish by Red Bull in both the remaining races and Brawn finishing pointless can prevent a Brawn championship in its first season.

A post-race stewards hearing had the potential to seal the constructors’ title, but fifth-place finisher Nico Rosberg was cleared of charges that he did not slow when yellow flags were waved after a late crash. Had he been demoted or disqualified, the Brawn GP cars would have had enough points for the title.

In the drivers’ championship, Button’s lead over Barrichello was cut by one point to 14, with Vettel now just two points further back.

“It can still be done and its looking much better now,” Vettel said of his chances in the championship. “Shame there’s only two races to go, but that’s life. Anything is still possible and it can change quickly.

“I will fight to the end, to the last breath.”

It was Vettel’s third win of the season, and first since the British Grand Prix in June. The German started from pole position and was never headed, getting a strong start to keep the KERS-power boost cars behind him.

He had built a 12.5-second buffer over Trulli before the late emergence of the safety car following a spectacular crash by Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari, who crashed through a trackside advertising hoarding into a tire wall.

But even with the running order compacted, he emerged strongly when the safety car was removed, and his victory was not threatened.

Trulli started second but was predictably overtaken into the first corner by Hamilton, with the aid of the KERS-power boost in his McLaren.

However Trulli stuck doggedly behind Hamilton and after his second pitstop, emerged in front of the McLaren, which had lost a malfunctioning KERS system shortly beforehand. (AP)