Schumacher Lost for Words after 'Unbelievable' Year

World Champion Michael Schumacher was left speechless following his Japanese Grand Prix victory as he contemplated the end of a season in which he and his Ferrari team have achieved an incredible series of records.

When he and Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello crossed the line at Suzuka, line astern, they claimed an astonishing ninth one-two finish from the season's 17 races. Schumacher also became the first man to finish on the podium in every race of the season, increased his record points tally to 144 and stretched his record number of season victories out to 11.

Ferrari finished on 221 points, the same as the rest of the field put together, and equalled the record number of team victories in a season with their 15th win from 17 races.

"I don't think it is necessary to say much more," Schumacher mused afterwards. "The results talk. We have finished all the races and we have finished them on the podium. It is unbelievable what we have achieved."

Schumacher stormed into the lead of the Japanese race from the start and built up a large gap that allowed him to plan his race to perfection and cruise to the line to finish with Barrichello just 0.5 seconds behind him.

And it proved that the team can function without the presence of strategy guru and technical director Ross Brawn, who was left at home in England nursing a bad back.

"It was no surprise that we pulled out the gap to the others," said Schumacher. "I have been fast all weekend and I must say that it is the first race Ross missed in all the time. I think he is disappointed not to share this with us."

Concentration now moves to 2003, when Ferrari will introduce a heavily modified engine and a new car designed around that new powerplant. It could see them stretch their legs and increase the gap even further.

But the much talked-about proposals to slow them down could by then be introduced to make Schumacher's dominance a thing of the past. The German, however, was looking forward to relaxing, and to spending some time with his wife Corinna and their two children.

"Now I look forward to a nice wintertime," he said. "I can relax and get strong again for next year."