Barrichello has so far been the best of the rest in the sessions leading up to the race and he will be hoping Michael's pace is not so hot in the race if he is to give his team mate a challenge. Both F2002's were on the grid nice and early, which goes to suggest both drivers are happy with their chassis. 53 challenging laps await the drivers and the start seen both Ferrari's away well from the line and both held their positions around lap 1. Schumacher pulling out over 2 seconds on Barrichello on the opening lap as he makes his intentions for this afternoon clear for all to see. Ralf Schumacher was the main mover at the start as he jumped Kimi Raikkonen who appeared to be blocked by his team mate David Coulthard.

Schumacher sets new fastest lap after fastest lap as he pulls away from the chasing pack. Barrichello seems to have no answer to the early pace from the world champion and either Michael is on a differing strategy or he is simply too quick for the rest to keep up. Felipe Massa is the first driver to retire as he spins out at the Degner corner ending his season pretty much how it began. Coulthard is next to go as he pulls his ailing McLaren into his garage and it seems his GP was cursed from the off, even his grid girl passed out on the starting grid!

Lap 10 and another new lap record from Schumacher as he increases his lead over Barrichello to near 5 seconds and the distance to third placed man Ralf Schumacher is now 15 seconds. The leading Ferrari is now entering into a position to be more than a pitstop ahead of the chasing pack. Lap 20 and the race leader Schumacher is in for his first stop of the day and is stationary for 9.4 seconds and rejoins the track in second place as Barrichello moves into the lead. Barrichello's lead lasts only 1 lap as he comes in for his stop and he rejoins in fourth place after a similar time in the pits as Michael. The Ferrari 1-2 was soon resumed once Raikkonen and R Schumacher made their stops. Schumacher gaining more of a lead over Barrichello in the pitstops and his lead is now over 7 seconds.

23 laps to go and the lead is remaining around 7/8 seconds for Schumacher and the lead over third place Ralf is up to the 30 second margin as the Ferrari pace is really frightening for their rivals. Lap 37 and the second set of stops for Ferrari begin with Barrichello coming in first this time round and another clean stop by the mechanics had the Brazilian on his way without any trouble. Michael is in the next lap and once more a great stop under no pressure by the mechanics and Schumacher returns to the track back in the lead.

The remaining laps were reeled of without any problems by Schumacher and the pace was dropped as the Ferrari's cruised home to the finish and his 100% finishing record. Ralf Schumacher's third place was to be lost in the final laps as his BMW engine once again proves to be the weakest link and lets go promoting Raikkonen onto the podium.

So the 2002 season is over and what a season it has been for Ferrari, the 1-2 in Japan gave them Schumacher's eleventh win of the season, the teams fifteenth win of the season and a total of 221 constructor's points! Schumacher has set another record as he finished every race of the season, and every one of them on the podium. It has been a season dominated from Australia to Japan by Ferrari and now all eyes turn to doing it all again in 2003.