It seems a shame that the most exciting thing people were looking forward to at the Suzuka race was whether the threatened monsoon storm would provide a mixed-up grid. These days F1 needs every little bit of help it can get to 'spice up the show'. Maybe the wag who suggested reverse order grids was not quite so barmy after all.

The other big topic of conversation (in the UK only, of course, none else cares) was whether Silverstone would survive as a Grand Prix venue - the gap between the BRDC and Bernie being down to 'just' £1.5m. Although a firm believer in all.phpects of capitalism I am sometimes shocked by the vast amounts of money being extracted from the sport by a very small group of people. This has nothing to do with the noble aim of shareholders' returns but seems a never-ending exercise in confiscating every last penny from punters who insist on being associated in some way or the other with F1 racing. Whilst the F1 world threatens to implode (Arrows, Ford, Jaguar, Cosworth, Jordan etc.) it is spooky how new 'investors' keep coming out of the woodwork to throw yet more cash down this bottomless pit.

Remember the old saying: how do you make a small fortune out of motor racing? Start with a large one.... Doesn't apply to everyone, of course.

Whilst the Suzuka storm certainly stopped any on-track activity on the Saturday, the Sunday seemed to run quite normally. Pre-qualifying and qualifying were held under drying and warm conditions on Sunday morning and the race ran to schedule in the afternoon so the hopes of a different grid were well and trully dashed. In a situation like this, it's the good teams that have the opportunity to shine - and Ferrari is a very good team.

Michael Schumacher was back to his full prowess and put his Ferrari on pole by almost half a second over his brother Ralf who was enjoying a good weekend, considering his recent return from his Indianapolis injuries. Mark Webber put his Jaguar into third, a huge fillip for his beleaguered team, and then came the two BARs with local driver Sato ahead of our man Button.

It must have been very pleasurable for Jarno Trulli to stick his Toyota sixth on the grid ahead of his erstwhile employers Renault, whose cars were ninth (Villeneuve) and 11th (Alonso).

Barrichello had a good skid during his qualifying run and this dropped him down into 15th place, from which it would be a really struggle on this difficult-to-pass track to get back towards the front end.

The race itself was pretty simple as far as the two Schumachers were concerned. With Michael in the lead the two of them disappeared from the rest of the field at anything up to two seconds per lap. Michael started pulling out a small lead from his brother by just under a second per lap and when Ralf dived into the pits on lap nine for his first re-fuelling stop Michael was left in a commanding lead which he never lost to the finish. Even when he made his first fuel stop on lap 13 he returned to the track in the lead.

Behind these two there was some entertaining racing going on. The two BARs, led at first by Button, gave chase but were simply not quick enough. Trulli ran an impressive fifth for a while with Webber, Coulthard and Fisichella chasing. Then came another interesting squabble between Villeneuve, Alonso, Raikkonen and Montoya, with Barrichello eventually joining this group after some struggles from his low grid position. At one time it looked as if Coulthard and Barrichello, both driving very quickly, would catch up with the BARs in third and fourth places but on lap 39 Barrichello made an over-optimistic attempt at passing DC and both retired to the pits with damaged front suspension.

With this excitement over the two Schumachers were left out on their own, with Michael slowing down to a leisurely pace as he reeled off the last few laps. He was taking no chances of losing this one. Ralf finished a commendable second, having driven fast and clean throughout, and into third place came Button for yet another podium finish, with his team-mate Sato in fourth.

Clearly untouchable throughout the weekend, Michael Schumacher had secured his 13th win of the season. With this kind of superiority it is difficult to see how he can fail to make it 14 at the final Brazilian round. It is doubtful whether he will hand Barrichello any crumbs and let him win his own Grand Prix.

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Wet or dry, Schuey was back on top

Brave effort by Webber in Jaguar's last knockings

Trulli was pleased to have out Q'd the Renaults

There were some interesting midfield squabbles

BAR look to have secured second in the Constructors' Championship - Sato coming home fourth

Rubens (here with Raikkonen) tangled with DC and both retired

MS back in his rightful spot! But why has Ross got his arm round Button....??

pics by Ferrari Media & Pitpass