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
PM tiba di Kota Kinabalu untuk lawatan sehari
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tiba di Kota Kinabalu malam tadi untuk lawatan kerja sehari ke Sabah.
Bayaran yuran latihan e-sukan layak nikmati pelepasan cukai mulai tahun depan - Hannah
Perbelanjaan yuran keahlian gimnasium, mengikuti latihan atau kelas e-sukan, ekuestrian, renang, sukan bermotor dan taekwondo layak untuk menikmati pelepasan cukai sehingga RM1,000 mulai tahun depan.
PM Anwar beri sumbangan kepada Nur Khayla Azzahra
Sumbangan berkenaan disampaikan Setiausaha Politik beliau Farhan Fauzi yang mewakilinya bertemu Nur Khayla Azzahra dan keluarganya.
Fasa pertama Litar Pasir Gudang dijangka siap dalam tempoh tiga tahun - Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ibrahim menjangkakan fasa pertama 'Johor Circuit' di Litar Pasir Gudang siap dalam tempoh dua hingga tiga tahun.
MYStartup lancar program pemecut ketiga perkasa syarikat pemula niaga
MYStartup terus memperkasa syarikat pemula niaga di Malaysia dengan memulakan program pemecut ketiganya MYStartup Accelerator Kohort 3.
Perdagangan Malaysia meningkat 7.1% tahun ke tahun kepada RM690.59 bilion - MITI
Perdagangan Malaysia bagi Januari hingga Mac 2024 mengekalkan trend peningkatan, merekodkan pertumbuhan 7.1 peratus tahun ke tahun kepada RM690.59 bilion, dengan lebihan dagangan RM34.22 bilion.
Keselamatan makanan, perubahan iklim agenda utama Malaysia selaku Pengerusi ASEAN
Memperkukuh keselamatan makanan serantau dan menangani cabaran mendesak perubahan iklim adalah antara agenda utama yang akan diketengahkan Malaysia apabila memegang tampuk Pengerusi ASEAN.
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: 'Konflik Israel-Iran bukan urusan kami' - FFC
Misi Break the Siege of Gaza Freedom Flotilla tetap akan diteruskan sekiranya konflik di antara Israel dan Iran terus meningkat.
KKR harap projek naik taraf 3 jalan di Johor dilaksana tahun depan - Ahmad Maslan
Kementerian Kerja Raya (KKR) berharap kerja naik taraf tiga jalan di Johor dapat dilaksanakan tahun hadapan susulan pertambahan kenderaan menggunakan jalan tersebut.
KDNK Malaysia suku pertama dianggar berkembang 3.9% dipacu sektor perkhidmatan - DOSM
Sektor pembinaan menunjukkan pertumbuhan yang signifikan sebanyak 9.8 peratus berbanding 3.6 peratus pada suku tahun sebelumnya, terutama dipacu oleh subsektor kejuruteraan awam.
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.