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.