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Five Formula 1 drivers were given penalties for not lifting off during a yellow-flag period in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.

Championship leader Jenson Button, team-mate Rubens Barrichello, Renault driver Fernando Alonso, Force India's Adrian Sutil and Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi were given five-place grid penalties after the session.

The race stewards deemed the first four drivers had not lifted off sufficiently at the end of Q2, when Buemi had crashed, leaving debris on track.

Brawn team boss Ross Brawn said his drivers, who had not set a time until then, had not lifted at all.

"No, they swerved to avoid the problem. But they didn't lift off, no," said Brawn.

Swiss driver Buemi was also reprimanded by the stewards for driving back to the pits with a damaged car and impeding other drivers.

Button had qualified in seventh, Barrichello in fifth, Alonso in 12th, Sutil in fourth and Buemi in 10th.

Pos Driver Team 1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 2. Trulli Toyota 3. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 4. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 5. Raikkonen Ferrari 6. Rosberg Williams-Toyota 7. Kubica BMW-Sauber 8. Sutil Force India-Mercedes * 9. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes * 10. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 11. Button Brawn-Mercedes * 12. Fisichella Ferrari 13. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes ** 14. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari * 15. Nakajima Williams-Toyota 16. Grosjean Renault 17. Alonso Renault * 18. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes ** 19. Glock Toyota *** 20. Webber Red Bull-Renault *** * Five-place grid penalty ** Five-place grid penalty for changing gearbox *** Will use new chassis so will start from the pitlane