THE BIG PICTURE: All in all, even with Sebastian Vettel's runaway points lead, it was an interesting and exciting season throughout.

EVENT: The home fans didn't have much to root for with their drivers, but they still enjoyed the race immensely.

QUALIFYING: Vettel breaks Nigel Mansell's pole record (albeit with more races) with an in your face lap.

RACE: A fitting end to the season.

TRACK: This is a proper track to end the season.

START: Relatively uneventful for the last race, Webber does balk a bit, Button can't take advantage of it, and Barrichello drops like a lead balloon.

WEBBER: Sure it took a mechanical failure by his teammate, but it was still a fine race for Mark.

VETTEL: Jackie Stewart wrote in one of his books the first two laps are the most important laps in a race. Sebastian takes that philosophy to the max. Too bad his gearbox didn't last much past those two laps.

RED BULL: With no blown exhaust and possibly tougher front flexible wing checks, it will be very interesting to see what Adrian Newey can come up with next year to try to continue to dominate.

BUTTON: Jenson did all he could.

HAMILTON: Off the highs of a victory to the lows of a DNF.

MCLAREN: They couldn't even beat a wounded Red Bull. They have their work cutout for them during the offseason.

ALONSO: Once again, Fernando makes a statement of being perhaps the best driver on the grid. How else can he do so much with a very difficult car?

MASSA: Once again, Felipe shows he is no match for the best in the game.

FERRARI: Another manufacturer who has loads of work to do in the next few months. Just be careful how radical you want to get.

SUTIL: Adrian made another statement that he should be sought after.

DI RESTA: Paul completed a fine rookie season.

FORCE INDIA: Will ownership issues derail the steady progress this team has made?

ROSBERG: Still the number one driver on his team.

SCHUMACHER: Finished the season the way it started -- without much promise. Oh, and next time stop waving at Senna and pay attention to where your car is.

MERCEDES: This team is at a crossroads. Commit to a championship effort or reconsider what you are doing in F1.

KOBAYASHI: A quiet race for Kamui ensured a seventh place for Sauber in the Constructors' standings.

PEREZ: The jury is still out on Sergio, despite Ferrari's supposed interest.

PETROV: We'll now see how many bridges Vitaly exploded...

SENNA: Did you really think you would win a battle against Schumacher, both on the track and in the Stewards' room? Even if you were in your own country?

BARRICHELLO: Will we get a proper sendoff for Rubens?

MALDONADO: Can't really say much about Pastor this year due to the team he was on.

WILLIAMS: Will they ever return to former glory?

TORO ROSSO: So, after all the hoopla, they may end up keeping both Alguersuari and Buemi after all?

HEIDFELD: Can you believe Nick only dropped three positions (8th to 11th) in the standings since he was taken out of the car after the 11th race?

AUSTIN: So much for that idea. And who here believes New Jersey will actually come off?

WORD OF THE WEEKEND: Done.

STAT OF THE WEEKEND: 2 -- The number of times in the last 12 Brazilian Grands Prix the winner came from pole position.

HISTORICAL STAT OF THE WEEKEND: This is the 20th anniversary of Ayrton Senna's famous home win in 1991 with a failing gearbox and an exhausted driver. Ironically, the driver who won the most Brazilian Grands Prix was Senna's arch nemesis, Alain Prost, with six victories.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: Sebastian Vettel trying to nurse his car to the finish with gearbox problems, "I feel like Senna in '91."

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: Bernie Ecclestone when asked what's going on with Austin, "Exactly." Then, followed up after being asked what's missing, "They are short of two things -- pen and money."

SCHEDULE: The longest season is over. We now wait a very short four months for the 2012 season.

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