Button makes a clean sweep at Suzuka

Jenson Button

As he did in both practice sessions on Friday, Jenson Button led the way in the final session Saturday morning before qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

Button took first position with a 1m31.255s. His McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton ended up second quickest, half a second back.

Sebastian Vettel (1:32.122) looked to be carrying more fuel en route to third quickest lap, fractionally quicker than Fernando Alonso's Ferrari (1:32.279). Mark Webber was fifth quickest (1:32.401) in the second Red Bull, two hundredths ahead of Felipe Massa with the second Ferrari.

Webber took a new engine for FP3, his sixth Renault of the permitted eight.

The Mercedes drivers were next, Michael Schumacher (1:32.725) marginally quicker than Nico Rosberg (1:32.878). Vitaly Petrov (1:33.058) put the first Renault ninth, with Adrian Sutil (1:33.424) 10th with the first Force India.

Results

Pos

Driver Team/Car Time Behind
1. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m31.255s +0.000s
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m31.762s +0.507s
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m32.122s +0.867s
4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m32.279s +1.024s
5. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m32.401s +1.146s
6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m32.429s +1.174s
7. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m32.725s +1.470s
8. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m32.878s +1.623s
9. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m33.058s +1.803s
10. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m33.424s +2.169s
11. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m33.469s +2.214s
12. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m33.545s +2.290s
13. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m33.818s +2.563s
14. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m33.836s +2.581s
15. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m33.990s +2.735s
16. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1m34.321s +3.066s
17. Bruno Senna Renault 1m35.389s +4.134s
18. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m35.651s +4.396s
19. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1m36.327s +5.072s
20. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1m36.912s +5.657s
21. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m37.938s +6.683s
22. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m38.011s +6.756s
23. Daniel Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth 1m38.355s +7.100s
24. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1m41.097s +9.842s