By Associated Press

Published: 08:39 BST, 7 October 2017 | Updated: 08:40 BST, 7 October 2017

SUZUKA, Japan (AP) – Championship leader Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, leading a 1-2 finish for Mercedes drivers.

Hamilton posted a lap record time of 1 minute, 27.319 seconds to finish .332 ahead of Valtteri Bottas. Hamilton’s title rival Sebastian Vettel was third.

Ferrari driver Vettel will move up to second thanks to Bottas’s penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Before Saturday’s qualifying, Hamilton had secured pole at every current F1 circuit except Suzuka.

With five races remaining, Hamilton leads Vettel by 34 points in the drivers’ championship.

Hamilton has won twice before in Suzuka, in 2014 and 2015, and was runner-up to former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in last year’s race.

A win in Suzuka would move Hamilton a step closer to a third F1 title in four years with Mercedes and his fourth overall.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain exits his car following the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain exits his car following the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain exits his car following the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Mechanics for Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain work on his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Mechanics for Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain work on his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Mechanics for Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain work on his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain waits in his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain waits in his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain waits in his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland leaves his car after crashing at a corner during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland leaves his car after crashing at a corner during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland leaves his car after crashing at a corner during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the third practice session for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

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