Red Bull's Mark Webber was fastest in final practice for the Japanese Grand Prix after world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel was sidelined by a battery problem.
Vettel, who can secure his fourth successive Formula One title in Sunday's race if he wins and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso fails to finish in the top eight, managed only eight laps.
Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes finished second-fastest followed by his team-mate Nico Rosberg.
Alonso, who is second overall in the title race but 77 points adrift of Vettel, was fifth fastest with the main battle in qualifying looking likely to be between Red Bull and Mercedes.
