2011 Japanese Grand Prix

2011 Japanese Grand Prix
Race 15 of 19 in the 2011 Formula One World Championship ← Previous race Next race →
Race details[1]
Date	October 9, 2011
Official name	2011 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix[2]
Location	Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Mie, Japan
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	5.807 km (3.608 miles)
Distance	53 laps, 307.471 km (191.054 miles)
Weather	Sunny and dry Air Temp 24 °C (75 °F)[3]
Attendance	199,000[4]
Pole position
Driver	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull Racing-Renault
Time	1:30.466
Fastest lap
Driver	Jenson Button	McLaren-Mercedes
Time	1:36.568 on lap 52
Podium
First	Jenson Button	McLaren-Mercedes
Second	Fernando Alonso	Ferrari
Third	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull Racing-Renault
Lap leaders

The 2011 Japanese Grand Prix (officially the 2011 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix)^[2] was a Formula One motor race that was held on 9 October 2011 at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan.^[5] It was the fifteenth round of the 2011 Formula One season and the 37th time the Japanese Grand Prix had been held. The 53-lap race was won by McLaren's Jenson Button, after he started from second on the grid. Fernando Alonso finished in second place for Scuderia Ferrari, and Sebastian Vettel completed the podium, with third, for Red Bull Racing.^[6]

Vettel had started the race in pole position alongside Button, whom he had marginally outqualified. The two drivers were the only two within mathematical contention for the title. Button attempted to overtake Vettel at the start of the race, yet was pressured towards the grass by Vettel which resulted in him losing his second position to third-placed starter Lewis Hamilton. Vettel was passed by Button in the second pit-stop phase, and was then passed by Alonso in the third. Hamilton slipped back from second to fifth, predominantly in the pit-stops; debris from a collision between himself and Felipe Massa caused a safety car period in the race. The second Red Bull of Mark Webber finished in fourth position.

As a consequence of the race, Vettel secured the World Drivers' Championship for the second year in succession,^[6] having only required one point prior to the weekend to be declared World Champion.^[7] Button remained in second place on the standings after his victory, extending the gap over third-placed Alonso to eight points. In the World Constructors' Championship, Red Bull's championship lead over McLaren was cut to 130 points, with Ferrari a further 96 points behind in third position.