Nico Rosberg will move a step closer to usurping Lewis Hamilton as Formula One world champion if the German converts pole position into a first victory in Japan on Sunday.
Rosberg, who has a 23-point lead over Hamilton in the title standings with five races to go, pipped his British foe by just 0.013sec as the two Mercedes rivals went toe to toe in Saturday's qualifying.
Hamilton's fragile state of mind after his heartbreak in Malaysia last weekend was encapsulated when he snubbed journalists over what he called "disrespectful" coverage earlier this week.
The German had been chipping away at Hamilton's veneer of invincibility by winning three successive races before Malaysia, where a battling third place for Rosberg added insult to injury for the Briton who had to retire with an engine blaze.
But Hamilton's meltdown after qualifying will be music to Rosberg's ears as he chases a maiden win in Japan -- one which would leave Hamilton's hopes of retaining the F1 title hanging by a thread.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen starts third in Sunday's race, alongside Dutch teenager Max Verstappen's Red Bull.
After securing his eighth pole of the year -- the same number as Hamilton -- Rosberg refused to get carried away, saying: "It's been a great weekend but I know I have a lot of work to do to complete the job."
Rosberg claimed pole at Suzuka for the third year running, but will be acutely aware that on neither previous occasion did it lead to victory in the race.
Hamilton came roaring back both times to win the Japanese race on his way to lifting the title.
- Rush of blood -
But Rosberg is in the form of his life and barring a first-corner error or collision, the German will be favourite to turn the screw on Hamilton.
A defiant Hamilton insisted he could still halt Rosberg's momentum by winning Sunday's race, having done exactly that in Japan the past two years.
But he appears to have lost the plot since his Malaysian disaster, blaming his engine blow-out on a team conspiracy, and a rush of blood going into turn one could spell trouble for Mercedes.
Hamilton backed away from remarks hinting at sabotage but caused another storm by playing with his mobile phone throughout Thursday's FIA press conference.
And after he was widely criticised for his behaviour, he reacted snootily.
"I don't plan on sitting here many more times at these kind of (media) things," he said.
Ferrari and Red Bull will look to pounce if Mercedes suffer more technical trouble.
Sebastian Vettel set the fourth-fastest qualifying time for Ferrari but a three-place grid penalty for smashing into Rosberg in Malaysia means he starts seventh.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, who inherited victory in Sepang after Hamilton's misfortune, lines up fifth ahead of Force India's Sergio Perez.
"I'm doing pretty good in the corners and just bleeding on the straights," said the Australian, complaining of low power.
McLaren will have a job on their hands to score points in engine supplier Honda's home race, meanwhile, with Fernando Alonso starting on row eight and Jenson Button a further row back.
AFP
Sun Oct 09 2016
Nico Rosberg claims pole at Suzuka for the third year running, but will be acutely aware that on neither previous occasion did it lead to victory in the race. - REUTERS / File
RUU 355: Pindaan perlu untuk praktikaliti, keadilan
Apa sahaja pindaan terhadap akta itu perlu berjalan selari dengan persediaan mereka yang bertanggungjawab melaksanakannya.
Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA
SAMENTA menjangkakan rasionalisasi RON95 akan memberi impak yang lebih besar kepada perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) berbanding pelarasan subsidi diesel.
Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030
Malaysia menyasarkan pengeluaran 40 peratus hasil sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 dalam usaha membantu mengimbangi keperluan perikanan negara.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
F1: Hamilton beri penghargaan kepada penonton di Silverstone
Ketinggalan kepada Verstappen dengan 32 mata dalam saingan Kejohanan Pemandu, Hamilton meraih momentum di Silverstone selepas mengatasi pelumba kelahiran Belanda itu dalam aksi kelayakan.
F1: Grand Prix Turki dibatalkan
Aksi itu akan digantikan dengan perlumbaan kedua di Austria.
Hamilton harap kelab kegemarannya kembali menyerlah
Juara dunia tujuh kali F1 Lewis Hamilton berharap kelab bola sepak kegemarannya, Arsenal akan bangkit kembali selepas menerima banyak kritikan daripada peminat dan menjadi bahan ejekan di internet.
Grand Prix Vietnam dikeluar dari kalendar 2021
Langkah menarik keluar dari senarai itu dibuat berikutan terdapat kes rasuah melibatkan seorang pegawai tertinggi yang bertanggungjawab bagi perlumbaan di Hanoi itu.
Keadaan terkini Michael Schumacher, koma atau sudah sedar?
Luca Badoer, bekas rakan sekerja Schumacher di Ferrari mengatakan hanya isterinya yang memilih siapa yang dibenarkan untuk berkunjung.
Vettel patut pilih untuk bersara - Jackie Stewart
Vettel mengakui sebelum menandatangani dengan Aston Martin bahawa bersara adalah pilihan yang sedang dipertimbangkan, dan Stewart berasakan meninggalkan F1 pasti menjadi pilihan yang baik.
Grand Prix di Brazil, AS mungkin dibatalkan
Formula One masih berharap agar dapat melangsungkan antara 15 dan 18 perlumbaan sepanjang tahun ini.
Button terkejut dengan keputusan Vettel tinggalkan Ferrari
Vettel menafikan wang adalah alasan pemergiannya, dengan menyatakan kedua-dua pihak "tidak mempunyai keinginan untuk tetap bersama."
COVID-19: Perlumbaan F1 Grand Prix Shanghai ditunda
Perlumbaan F1 Grand Prix Shanghai yang dijadualkan berlangsung 19 April depan, telah ditunda susulan wabak COVID-19 yang melanda China.
Michael Schumacher sedang terima rawatan di Paris
Lagenda Formula One, Michael Schumacher dilaporkan sedang menerima rawatan di sebuah hospital di Paris.