2011 Japanese Grand Prix The Japanese Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel becomes the youngest ever back-to-back champion and can be delighted with a wonderful season, while Button takes a well-deserved victory.

Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa once again traded paint and no doubt there will be further rumblings as their magnetic attraction continues. Michael Schumacher can be satisfied with his day's work and a solid defensive drive against his former team-mate in the closing laps.

Bittersweet day for Sauber, as Perez puts in a great drive to eighth place, but Kobayashi fails to score at home. Force India and Williams will also be disappointed with the way their weekend panned out, but a positive race for Lotus. Kovalainen finished just 13.6 seconds behind Barrichello and Senna in a straight race, with Trulli also running strong.

But the day and, indeed, the year belongs to Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing.

This was the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for joining us over the last three days of action. The teams now move quickly for next weekend's race at Yeongam and we will be back with the early forecast for the Korean Grand Prix tomorrow.

Red Bull remains on course for the constructors' crown, leading McLaren by 130 points with only 172 still to play for.

Button is now eight points ahead of Alonso in the battle for best-of-the-rest honours, with Webber and Hamilton dropping away slightly.

It's all over in the points race as Vettel takes an unbeatable 114-point margin into the final four rounds.

Vettel is last to leave the rostrum. He raises the trophy aloft one more time and the fans cheer him loudly.

Paddy Lowe joins the three on the top step for the traditional end-of-race photocall.

The champagne sprays on the podium and the top three drivers make sure that their respective team members get a sticky shower.

Big cheers from the crowd as Vettel - the new world champion - picks up his third place trophy.

Alonso receives his award for second place in today's race. He raises the trophy above his head and looks very pleased with his day's work.

Paddy Lowe collects the constructors' prize after McLaren's fifth triumph of the campaign.

Button accepts the sizable award for a superb drive to victory here in Japan.

They come out onto the podium and God Save the Queen rings out for today's winners - Jenson Button and McLaren.

The drivers move into the cooldown room and Button explains to Vettel how far on the grass he was forced at the start.

Only one driver retired from the Japanese Grand Prix. Buemi was forced out when his left front wheel and tyre came off just after a stop.

Vettel sprints off to take the plaudits from his Red Bull team.

Trulli was 19th in the second Lotus with Glock two laps down in 20th, d'Ambrosio 21st, Ricciardo 22nd and Liuzzi in 23rd place.

World champion Vettel is the next to tour in after finally securing his second title this afternoon.

Alguersuari was 15th. Did that tyre strategy pay off? Not really. Senna was 16th ahead of Barrichello 17th and Kovalainen 18th.

Button makes it to parc ferme on foot, taking the cheers from the enthusiastic crowd.

Kobayashi also lost ground in the final phase of the race and trailed in 13th, with Maldonado just 0.4s behind him in 14th.

Out of the points, it's a disappointing day for Force India with Sutil 11th and di Resta 12th. Both fell away in the last stint.

"We took nothing for granted and we did it," says an emotional Vettel over his team radio.

Button has pulled to a halt in his McLaren and may be short on fuel at the end of a battling race.

Perez finished eighth after another solid drive in the Sauber, with Petrov ninth and Rosberg claims the final point in 10th place.

Schumacher takes sixth for Mercedes, with Massa seventh for Ferrari.

Webber comes home fourth for Red Bull, while Hamilton takes fifth after another troubled afternoon.

The German didn't have it all his own way today, but cements an incredible record as the youngest ever back-to-back champion.

Sebastian Vettel is the 2011 Formula 1 World Champion!

Alonso comes home second after a fighting drive in his Ferrari, chasing Button all the way to the flag.

Another stunning performance from the McLaren man, using his tyres to perfection for his third victory of the year.

Jenson Button wins the Japanese Grand Prix!

Lap 53: Button nails the HRT of Liuzzi into Spoon and is under half a lap from a fine win in Japan.

Lap 53: Schumacher responds to Massa's attack by delivering his fastest lap of the race.

Lap 53: Button is controlling Alonso now, taking a 1.7 second margin into the final lap.

Lap 53: Perez has eased off just a little and fallen back to eight seconds behind Massa again. He remains in eighth.

Lap 52: Massa is just 0.6s behind Schumacher now in that fight for sixth.

Lap 52: Button throws the hammer down with the fastest middle sector of the race, pulling out two tenths heading into the penultimate tour.

Lap 52: Rosberg has passed Sutil and takes over the final points paying position in 10th.

Lap 51: Button finds some pace to respond with his own personal best in the first sector.

Lap 51: Alguersuari is now right on the tail of the Sauber driver in 14th.