With the gap fluctuating only slightly as the lead pair negotiated traffic, it appeared that only a mechanical problem or incident in the pits was going to alter the order. This time around, Schumacher had just one lap in hand on Alonso, the pair stopping on laps 35 and 36 respectively but, already the odd tell-tale wisp of smoke could be seen emanating from the
Ferrari. Again, Schumacher retained the lead as he rejoined, but his race was to go little further.
David Coulthard had already joined Albers in retirement by the time Schumacher's engine let go, the German coasting into retirement at the back of the circuit just two laps after his stop. Taking time to wave to the Japanese fans that had dogged his every step during the weekend, the look on Schumacher's face reflected not just his last grand prix at Suzuka, but also, possibly, the end his title aspirations. All Alonso had to do to gain the championship advantage was finish in the points and, thanks to a combination of his driving, Renault's pit-work and better-than-expected rubber from Michelin, he stood a great chance of maximising the opportunity with ten.
Webber added to the casualty list after a heavy impact with the wall entering the start-finish straight, but the Australian was never a threat to the new leader. In fact, few were, with Massa, now in second, over ten seconds adrift of the
Renault. Raikkonen briefly held third spot, but still had to make his second stop, which allowed Fisichella and Button to move up a place, with the
McLaren slotting back in ahead of the Toyotas, whose performance dropped away over the course of the race.
