THE BIG PICTURE: Well, well, well. We have a whole new championship fight on our hands. Four points. Five races. Let the fun begin.

EVENT: From the Japanese perspective, a perfect event thanks to Kobayashi.

QUALIFYING: Raikkonen's spin mixed things up, but any resultant excitement for the race was taken away by the first turn.

RACE: After the first turn on the first lap, the excitement for the home fans was watching their hero desperately hold on for a podium spot with Button closing fast.

TRACK: This track was perfect for the new Red Bull double DRS.

START: Alonso potentially throws away his championship, Grosjean goes nutso again, and Vettel drives off into the sunset.

VETTEL: Sebastian's perfect race would be to win and have Alonso drop out. Not only did that happen, but Vettel got the grand slam (pole, win, led every lap, and fastest race lap).

MASSA: Felipe's best race of the year, first podium in two years, and he (most likely) gets to keep his Ferrari ride.

KOBAYASHI: Kamui's perfect race would be to get his first podium in front of his home fans. He delivered.

BUTTON: Now the leader at McLaren.

HAMILTON: As hinted in the Singapore Thoughts, Lewis was long gone from McLaren. But, will Mercedes coddle him like McLaren did for his frail ego?

RAIKKONEN: Kimi provided all sorts of excitement over the weekend. But, that's Kimi...

MALDONADO: Pastor finally scores points after his win.

WEBBER: A potential podium ruined by the crazy Frenchman.

GROSJEAN: Maybe Romain needs to start from pit lane for the rest of the season...

SCHUMACHER: His choice? Or forced? Either way, Michael is retiring for the second time. For now...

PEREZ: Now that he will be getting his big break next year going to McLaren, Sergio drove like a top driver, including a daring pass on Hamilton of all drivers ... for 20 laps. Then, made a mistake to put himself off. Emulating the driver he is replacing...?

DI RESTA: Not that Perez doesn't deserve it, but Paul should have gotten the McLaren ride. This time, home nationality worked against a driver.

SENNA: Another lost wing at the start.

ROSBERG: His luck continues to go downhill since his win.

WORD OF THE WEEKEND: Turnaround.

STAT OF THE WEEKEND: 4 -- The number of points now separating Alonso and Vettel.

HISTORICAL STAT OF THE WEEKEND: German drivers have now won a third of the Japanese Grands Prix between two drivers -- Michael Schumacher (6) and Sebastian Vettel (3). Those two have won half of the Japanese GP in the past 18 years.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: You know who is going to get this one. Mark Webber on a certain repeat offender, "It was first-lap nutcase again, Grosjean."

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND RUNNERUP: And since we're piling on, Jenson Button on the same driver, "Is it Formula One's responsibility to do something about it? Or should he just take a good look at himself and sort his shit out, because that's what he needs to do."

SCHEDULE: Off to Korea, and thank goodness it's only one week away after the developments in Japan.

Copyright © 2012 by Deep Throttle. All Rights Reserved.