World champion Sebastian Vettel put himself on pole position for a second successive Formula One title at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The 24-year-old German pipped McLaren's Jenson Button in his Red Bull by just nine thousandths of a second in qualifying with Button's fellow Briton and McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton third.
Button, who sits second in the championship and trails Vettel 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 pole is even more remarkable as he crashed out in practice, smashing into the wall in the final minute of the opening session. He was unhurt and went on to post the third fastest time in the session, with Button quickest.
