Timothy Collings' Race Report - Japanese GP

Germany's Michael Schumacher ended Ferrari's long wait on Sunday by becoming the first driver in 21 years to win the Formula One world title for the Italian team.

Schumacher secured his third crown with one race to spare after winning an emotional Japanese Grand Prix that ended the hopes of McLaren's world champion Mika Hakkinen of Finland.

"Don't expect me to fall into tears now but again it's difficult to find proper words for such feeling," said Schumacher, who cried after winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza last month.

"There was such an outbreak of emotion initially when I crossed the line," said Schumacher, his speech faltering. "Finally doing it, it's simply great. Imagine what is going on right now in Italy. That must be simply amazing."

In a demanding, but unexceptional race, run in unpredictable conditions with occasional drizzle, Schumacher made a bad start as Hakkinen led into the first turn.

The German took the lead after 37 laps when Hakkinen made his second pit stop and he stayed out on the track, taking a later pit stop to stay in front and claim victory.

Schumacher said the title was "the culmination of five years work and it feels great and very emotional."

"It is not comparable to my other titles -- the conditions and the circumstances are so different," he added.

Triple Champions

Schumacher, 31, joined the pantheon of Formula One's triple world champions and was the first since the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna in 1991.

Hakkinen came home second 1.8 seconds behind Schumacher with his McLaren team-mate Briton David Coulthard third. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello was fourth, Briton Jenson Button fifth in a Williams and Canadian Jacques Villeneuve sixth for BAR.

Schumacher had won the title previously with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, but had fought in vain for four years after joining Ferrari as the highest paid driver in Formula One to end their frustrated pursuit of glory.

It was his third win in succession, his seventh this year and the 43rd of his career, a total that draws him close to the only driver with more victories, four times champion Alain Prost of France, on 51.

Ferrari had not won the drivers' title since South African Jody Scheckter triumphed for them in 1979.

There were stirring and emotional scenes after the race with many of the team in tears as Schumacher danced on the victor's podium to the Italian anthem.

His teammate Barrichello was among the throng of celebrating Italians below the rostrum as Ferrari's sporting director Frenchman Jean Todt was soaked in champagne.

"There are no words to describe this. now we can enjoy it all," said Todt. "We need three points for the constructors title and we won't let go .. but let's not worry about the future right now. Let's enjoy the present for at least five minutes."

Winning Strategy

The man who most deserved to share Schumacher's exultant podium, the Ferrari team's technical director Ross Brawn, celebrated below with the team's staff.

It was his carefully-constructed strategy which delivered their win when Schumacher appeared to be struggling following Hakkinen's excellent start.

Brawn made the decision to keep Schumacher out for a further four laps, three of them in the lead in difficult drizzling semi-wet conditions, during which he opened up a commanding lead, taking full advantage of the opportunity provided.

When Schumacher did pit, the Ferrari crew had him in and out in six seconds flat compared to Hakkinen's second stop in 7.4.

As Schumacher drew out of the long pitlane, with Hakkinen battling to escape from behind Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa's Arrows, the race was won.

Brawn was on the radio to Schumacher and told him: "It's looking good, it's looking good -- it's looking bloody good."

Schumacher said: "It was the best moment of my motor racing career."

His lead was a massive 4.5 seconds at that stage and he was able to open it up easily to a comfortable five seconds and manage the lead from there to the chequered flag.

"The emotions were big at the last corner, absolutely fantastic and it was difficult for me to take it all in," said Schumacher. "It is just great."