If China was the circuit he would probably eliminate from the calendar, then Suzuka is arguably the one he would choose to extend that title advantage. After all, he has won there six times.
And a seventh - and final - win at the Japanese circuit could not be closer to his grasp, while it would be appropriate that Suzuka’s swansong race was won by its most successful visitor.
"To be in Japan with an even and promising result in the classification is something that we could not even dream of in Canada, when we were 25 points behind. Now the championships start anew from zero. And you cannot wish for more. It will be a fantastic battle, something really exciting.”
"There is no better way to enter into the end of the season with two races to go than a victory. Two decisive races in the battle of the championship are still to go, but a victory like that counts twice. Obviously this success has given us all even more spur.
"On Saturday it looked as if everything was against us, but in the end we could gain this dreamlike result. That was the reason why I was in such a good mood on Sunday; after all the difficulties during the qualifying I didn't hope to win, but instead I thought how to limit the damage.”
Having seen his run of points come to a sudden end in Italy,
Felipe Massa came away from China now back behind
Giancarlo Fisichella in the points after struggling to come back from an engine change in Friday practice.
Regardless though, Massa never looked entirely comfortable in the wet, just as he did in Hungary, and although a clash with
David Coulthard was the reason for him failing to take at least a point away from China, the Brazilian is undoubtedly hoping for a dry weekend in Japan.
Toyota – Ralf Schumacher (#7), Jarno Trulli (#8):
If one team is not so sad to be bidding farewell to Suzuka come Sunday, then it will be Toyota as it is their money and development that has lured
Bernie Ecclestone to their own Fuji circuit.
