Michael Schumacher led a Ferrari one-two at the Japanese Grand Prix today, to clinch a hat-trick of wins at Suzuka, and round off his record-breaking Formula One season in style.
The Ferrari ace, who clinched his fifth world championship at the French Grand Prix in July, came home half a second ahead of teammate Rubens Barrichello to secure his record 11th win of the season.
Finland's Kimi Raikkonen grabbed third in a McLaren, 23 seconds off the pace, while Colombian Juan-Pablo Montoya took fourth in his Williams.
Takuma Sato, racing for the first time in a Formula One grand prix in front of his home fans, secured his first points of the season in a Jordan, with fifth place.
England's Jenson Button in a Renault took sixth after Ralf Schumacher was forced into the side due to engine problems with four laps remaining.
Schumacher has finished among the top three at every grand prix this year and is the first driver to complete a Formula One season on the podium.
He has now won 64 grand prix, 45 of them for Ferrari. His nearest challenger in Formula One's hall of fame is France's legendary Alain Prost, who recorded 51 career victories.
The 33-year-old German's win also took his personal points tally for the season to a record 144 and gave Ferrari their 53rd successive podium finish.
The Ferrari duo also recorded their 15th one-two, breaking the record for Formula One's most successful partnership, which they previously shared with McLaren's legendary 1988-89 pairing of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
It was also their ninth one-two finish of the season.
AFP