Race of the decade

Courtesy of some brilliant driving and a peculiar grid we were treated to some excellent entertainment at the Japanese Grand Prix. This race evidenced a new era in racing with three drivers of Schumacher's standard on the circuit. It showed that it is about drivers; not just equipment. Surely Honda would have had a podium in the hands of an Alonso.

Kimi Raikonnen

Very strong indeed. Through the field from seventeenth position, dramatic last lap overtaking of Fisichella gave him first place . Must be his best career performance.

Giancarlo Fisichella

Shown that he did not have the speed of his team mate or of Raikonnen. Perhaps could have won if he had not felt the need to drive a defensive line into the final chicane on the second from last lap. I bet Flavio wasn't happy despite Renault regaining the constructors' championship lead.

Alonso

I think it would have been a close call for the win if his pit strategy had been better. The best overtaking moves seen in ages, including two on Michael Schumacher, confident, tough and well planned manoeuvres. His second on Schumacher initiated at the spoon to take him into turn one; quite awesome. I don't think that we have ever seen Schumacher this ballsy; as talented perhaps but not as courageous.

Webber

Must have been doing something right. His team must have enjoyed beating Button out of the pits at his last stop.

Button

Once again the Honda team had high expectations for the race; sharing them with we viewers at home. Once again they didn't do the job. I really think that Frank Williams has pulled off a masterstroke by letting Button buy himself out of his contract. There is much talk of Button and the world championship, how long before the Honda top brass start to get fed up; quite a while I reckon, unfortunately.

Montoya

Off again. Of course; not his fault.

Dedication's what you need.......

Am I correct in thinking that M Schumacher is only one pole away from the magic total of 64 career poles record set by the fabulous Mr Ayrton Senna? I seem to remember that at the beginning of the year I considered (with a heavy heart, it has to be said), that the German would nab that glory from the most entertaining driver of the last few decades. I am now thinking that, if he does retire at the end of next year, Mr Dress-sense, might possibly do so, missing one record. That would be nice.

MacLaren loses championship

Not to take anything away from some impressive drives from Alonso, particularly fending off Schumacher senior at Imola this year, but those Wokingham folk have thrown the drivers' championship away. Unfortunately the regulations , points available, and sponsors favour the steady; and Messrs Briatore and Co have had their eye on the ball all the way. At least it was more entertaining than another Ferrari snoozefest.