Weather conditions remained perfect here at Suzuka for the 2001 season finale, an emotional event fro several reasons. F1 veteran, Jean Alesi is smiling as he stands on the grid for what will be the final time of his career, the Frenchman talking calmly to reporters before climbing into his EJ11. Michael Schumacher is also talking to reporters, wearing an odd looking pointed hat. The drivers take to their cars and prepare for the formation lap. They're off and Bernoldi stalls his Arrows, the Brazilian taken back to pitlane where the Minardi of Alex Yoong is also sitting, the Malaysian driver having earlier problems with his gearbox.

The lights go out and the season finale is go! Michael Schumacher gets off to a flying start, keeping his lead over both Williams men. The German instantly pulls out a lead as Montoya keeps his second place ahead of Ralf. Rubens Barrichello instantly attacks the third placed Williams and right behind is the Benetton of Giancarlo Fisichella, the Italian getting past Mika Hakkinen at the start. Rubens continues to harry Ralf Schumacher and through he goes, the Ferrari possibly running a light fuel load here this afternoon.

Lap two and Juan Pablo Montoya is next on Barrichello's' list and he gets past the Colombian, but Montoya comes straight back at him and reclaims his second place! Giancarlo Fisichella spins his Benetton and drops back to 12th place. Problems for Heinz-Harald Frentzen and he is in the Prost pits for a new nose cone. Four laps into the race and Michael Schumacher's dominance is continuing, the German driver now with an 8.4 second lead over second placed Montoya.

A big accident between Kimi Raikkonen and Jean Alesi as they fought for ninth place in the twisty fast section just before the Esses! Both cars are out and Alesi exits the car and walks back to the young Finn. Raikkonen spun all on his own after losing it over the bump and Alesi, travelling close behind, slammed into the Sauber and that's it for the Frenchman's final Formula One race. He checks Kimi is okay, shakes his hand and walks away, the first time this season that Jean has failed to finish a race. Good Jean, Formula One will miss you. Kimi is taken away to the medical centre, however the young Finn is okay.

"I'm okay a bit of a headache and the neck is a bit sore," Kimi said. "I lost all grip on the rear and spun off."

Lap ten and Juan Pablo Montoya sets the quickest lap of the race. It is thought that both Ferrari's are on a light fuel load here this afternoon, but with the Michelin's finally coming into play the Colombian is closing the gap, Michael Schumacher losing pace to the Williams rookie, making a slight error and out braking himself into the final chicane. Apparently Ferrari are concerned about the fact that the Michelin rubber appears to get better as the rubber wears away.

Jean Alesi walks back into the pits and says his goodbyes to the Jordan mechanics. Not the finish he had hoped for here today. Olivier Panis, Jos Verstappen and Fernando Alonso all fighting for 14th place as Ferrari prepare for a stop. In comes Rubens Barrichello from third place, confirming his suspected light fuel load. 7.2 for the Brazilian and he is back on track in ninth place. He tries to take Fisichella on the straight but the Benetton driver comes in for his first stop, followed by the sole remaining Jordan of Jarno Trulli, Trulli getting back on track in front of Fisichella.

Long stop for Olivier Panis, it's not turning out to be a good afternoon here for BAR. Lap 18 and Michael Schumacher pits from the lead of the Japanese Grand Prix. 8.8 for Michael and he comes back out between the two McLarens in fourth place and Juan Pablo Montoya leads the race followed by teammate Ralf Schumacher, the German driver five seconds further down the field. Villeneuve into the pits now as the McLarens and Williams remain on the track. Stop and go penalty for Enrique Bernoldi for crossing the chicane.

Michael Schumacher is trying to get past Mika Hakkinen and the Finn won't let his old rival through. He keeps the Ferrari behind him, despite Michael trying desperately to get through. Hakkinen goes wide yet Michael fails to make it through. Juan Pablo Montoya in for his first stop on lap 21, 8.8 and he comes back out in fifth behind David Coulthard.

Lap 23 and Ralf is in, 9 seconds for the German as David Coulthard comes through behind him. Next lap and the last of the top six comes in, Mika Hakkinen. No problems for the Finn and Michael Schumacher regains the lead with Juan Montoya second and a fighting Rubens Barrichello in third.

Eddie Irvine comes in to the pits and although it appears to go well, the Irishman rejoining the circuit, the next lap around he drives back in and retires the Jaguar due to a broken fuel rig.

"We've done everything we needed to do, we did all the hard work, but the rigs screwed, it's not working," Eddie explained.

Ten second stop and go for Ralf Schumacher for the same reason as Enrique Bernoldi! The Williams driver crossed the chicane and apparently gained an advantage. Bad news for Williams who have been running so strongly. Rubens Barrichello is in for his second pitstop with Ralf Schumacher following to serve his penalty. 12 seconds for Barrichello and he makes it out in front of Ralf, but Ralf snatches the position back at the end of the pitlane, and the stewards are not impressed! A lot of violations here this afternoon with Jos Verstappen under investigation now as well.

Meanwhile back at the front and Michael Schumacher leads Juan Pablo Montoya by 6.4 seconds. Ralf is back under investigation again, this time for passing Barrichello in the pits. Barrichello gets past Ralf Schumacher after the Williams driver blocks the Ferrari and crosses the chicane again in the process. Verstappen gets a penalty but it's for overtaking on the formation lap, not cutting the chicane as previously thought.

The next round of stops get underway, Panis Trulli, Villeneuve, Fisichella and finally Michael Schumacher all come in over the next few laps. Schumacher down to third behind Mika Hakkinen and Juan Pablo Montoya leads once again, the sixth change of leadership here this afternoon. 16 laps remain and Montoya pits to avoid the traffic. Scrubbed Michelins go on and 7.6 seconds later he is back on track and back into second place behind Michael Schumacher once again.

Ralf comes in for (hopefully) his final stop. The German is still under investigation for his pass on Barrichello, but at this stage it looks as if it won't come to pass. A very late stop for Barrichello with only 12 laps remaining, unfortunately it looks as if his strategy here today didn't pay off and David Coulthard will surely claim second place in the championship. The laps tick down as Juan Pablo Montoya continues to hunt down race leader Michael Schumacher, however with only a handful of laps remaining, the German ace looks set to claim his ninth victory of the season and break yet more records in the process.

Jacques Villeneuve makes a move on Jarno Trulli and gets past, however the BAR cut the chicane in the process and is therefore forced to give the position back to the Jordan driver. Tomas Enge retires his Prost in pitlane. David Coulthard closes in on third placed teammate Mika Hakkinen and Schumacher puts a lap on Villeneuve and Trulli. Montoya continues to eat into the gap, the Colombian up behind Villeneuve. Five laps remain and there are three backmarkers between Montoya and Schumacher. David Coulthard passes Mika Hakkinen and into third place as Giancarlo Fisichella retires, as does de la Rosa.

Mika Hakkinen appears to have problems, the Finn slow but continuing to lap the track. Three laps left and Jacques Villeneuve has a spin, losing his ninth place to Nick Heidfeld. The top six look fairly certain, Michael, Juan Pablo, David, Mika, Rubens and Ralf as Michael crosses the line for his final lap of the 2001 season.

Ferrari mechanics rush out into pitlane, waiting for their man to come back around to take the chequered flag. Horns are blaring the fans are on their feet and Michael wins in Japan!!!