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2013 Japanese GP: First practice

SUZUKA, Japan — Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were quickest in first practice here ahead of the 2013 Japanese Formula 1 GP.

Hamilton's 1min34.157 around the Suzuka circuit was 0.33sec faster than Rosberg. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was six-tenths off Hamilton's time, team mate Mark Webber was fourth, followed by Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso.

FOURTH TITLE COMING


Vettel won three of the past four races in Japan and will be aiming to take his fourth successive title by winning at Suzuka - provided Alonso is ninth or worse.

Lotus drivers Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen ended the day seventh and eighth respectively.

Hamilton's ability to post the top time raised hopes of a more competitive race on October 13 though Vettel only warmed up a week earlier in Korea in thrid practice - he's won the previous four GPs and the most recent, the 2013 Korean GP, stretched his lead over Alonso to 77 points with five races left.

Marussia's Jules Bianchi ran off the track early in first practice and went nose-first into a tyre wall. The Marussia driver was unhurt but his car had to be cleared by marshals. Williams driver Pastor Maldonado spun off and lost a rear wheel late in the session.

Caterham's Giedo van der Garde also slid off the track in an incident similar to Bianchi's but managed to avoid the wall.

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Japanese GP weekend.

2013 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka results:

First practice

1 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1min34.157
2 Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1min34.487
3 Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull Racing 1min34.768
4 Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull Racing 1min34.787
5 Felipe Massa (BRA)  Ferrari 1min35.126
6 Fernando Alonso (ESP)  Ferrari 1min35.154
7 Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 1min35.179
8 Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus 1min35.364
9 Sergio Perez (MEX) McLaren Mercedes 1min35.450
10 Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Toro Rosso 1min35.635
11 Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren Mercedes 1min35.868
12 Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Sauber 1min35.900
13 Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Toro Rosso 1min36.066
14 Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India 1min36.165
15 Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams 1min36.178
16 Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1min36.340
17 Paul di Resta (GBR) Force India 1min36.399
18 Esteban Gutierrez (MEX) Sauber 1min36.760
19 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Caterham 1min37.595
20 Jules Bianchi (FRA) Marussia 1min37.629
21 Giedo van der Garde (NED) Caterham 1min38.025
22 Max Chilton (GBR) Marussia 1min38.763
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