( CNN ) -- Two time defending world champion Sebastian Vettel claimed pole in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka for the fourth straight year Saturday ahead of Red Bull teammate Mark Webber . The German clocked the fastest time of one minute 30.839 seconds , which was 0.251 seconds faster than Webber . McLaren 's Jenson Button was third quickest , but will start from eighth after having a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change . It has promoted home hope Kamui Kobayashi to third as the home driver produced a superb last qualifying lap in his Sauber to delight the crowd . France 's Romain Grosjean for Lotus will go from fourth with the second Sauber of Mexican Sergio Perez in fifth . Button 's relegation has moved Ferrari 's championship leader Fernando Alonso up to sixth as he bids to protect his 29-point title lead over Vettel . Lewis Hamilton , who announced his move to Mercedes this week , was a disappointing ninth fastest in the second McLaren in a further blow to his receding championship challenge . Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher , who is being replaced at Mercedes by Hamilton and will retire for the second time at the end of the season , was unable to make the top-10 shootout . Schumacher , who crashed in practice Friday , was only 13th fastest and will start from 23rd after a 10-place grid penalty for an incident in the previous round in Sinqapore . But Vettel , who stayed clear of a late qualifying crash by Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus , which held up several drivers , including Alonso and Hamilton , was in imperious form as he stepped up his title bid . `` We had almost the perfect qualifying , '' he told the post-qualifying press conference . `` The car felt fantastic and I could n't have asked for any more . '' Vettel won in Singapore after race leader Hamilton retired and with six round remaining has become a real threat to Alonso .
Fernando Alonso on pole position for Japan GP at Suzuka . Vettel joined on front row by Mercedes teammate Vettel . Title leader Fernando Alonso will go from eighth . Mercedes bound Mark Webber only ninth best .