Analysis: Vision of Things to Come

McLaren's Finnish driver was the winner in Japan, seizing his seventh victory of the season in thrilling fashion by overtaking Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella on the last lap after starting in 17th place.

Renault's Alonso, the 24-year-old Spaniard who two weeks ago in Brazil became Formula One's youngest Champion, was no less sensational in finishing third from 16th.

Twice he overtook Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, running wheel-to-wheel and flat-out into the 130R corner as the wily German he had dethroned as Champion tried to shut him out.

Some of those watching in awed admiration felt the Spaniard's performance was even more impressive than Raikkonen's immense effort.

If anything symbolised the changing of the guard, in a season that has offered several examples, it was the sight of Alonso and Raikkonen stalking and then slicing past Schumacher's Ferrari at a circuit that the German once considered his own.

"In the whole Championship I did two or three overtaking moves and in this race I think I did 14," said Alonso, who might have won had he not missed the chicane and had to slow down to let Red Bull's Christian Klien regain position.

"And it was good. Especially that one (on Schumacher), I was much quicker on the straight...it was really risky but as I said before, there was nothing to lose today."

Title Battle

Alonso might think that, with the drivers' title sealed and delivered, but the battle for the constructors' crown remains very much alive.

With McLaren again failing to get two cars to the finish, after Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya crashed on lap one, Renault regained the upper hand and edged two points clear with only Sunday's Chinese season-ender remaining.

"We have one race left, we are leading the Constructors' Championship again, and there is a new engine upgrade to come in China. There is everything still to play for there," said Renault team boss Flavio Briatore.

Raikkonen will also want to finish the season in record-breaking style, albeit an unwanted first.

If the Finn wins in Shanghai, as he is surely favourite to do, he will become the first driver to win eight times in a single season without taking the title.

He has already triumphed more than Alonso, who has six wins, and led far more laps than the Spaniard over the course of the longest season in Formula One history.

Alonso has been far more consistent, however, with 14 podiums from 18 races to the Finn's 11.

While one dominated the first half of the year and the other the latter part, China should witness a memorable duel between the two.

"It is going to be a nice race for both teams, I think," said Raikkonen. "Last year our car was pretty quick there and I quite like the circuit, so for sure we will try to win the race and hopefully we can win the Championship too for the team.

"We just need to do the best we can and we will see at the end of the race what happens."