Still with all to play for, Formula One travels to Japan to close one of the most exciting seasons in years. The battle for both championships promises to be as thrilling as the whole season has been. Atlas F1's Craig Scarborough previews the event and the teams that will take place in the final race of the 2003 season

Since early March this year, the ten Formula One teams have toured the world and now, eight months later, the circus is stopping for the sixteenth and last round - the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

After the tumultuous US Grand Prix at Indianapolis, the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships remain undecided, both at the top of the ladder and in the midfield. It is a fitting end that the battles are to be decided at the figure-of-eight Suzuka track - a favourite one for the teams and drivers, which provides a technical and driving challenge.

Championship Standings

To win the Drivers' World Championship, McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen needs to win the Japanese Grand Prix, with Ferrari's Michael Schumacher not making it into the points. This is probably an unlikely scenario, but the Championship is Ferrari's to lose so no complacency can be shown.

Closer are the battles for second and fourth in the Drivers' standings. With Raikkonen and Williams's Juan Pablo Montoya separated by just one point, either driver could take the runner-up position in the Championship.

Fourth place will be fought between Williams's Ralf Schumacher, Renault's Fernando Alonso and Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello. Next in line is McLaren's David Coulthard, who will remain in 7th place no matter the outcome of the Suzuka race - as he is ten points behind Alonso, but 16 points ahead of Renault's Jarno Trulli.

The ninth place is reserved for the best-of-the-rest. Jaguar's Mark Webber leads a group of drivers which includes Sauber's Heinz Harald Frentzen, BAR's Jenson Button and Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella. As the trailing drivers need at least fifth place to match Webber, the position looks as though it is his.

For the Constructors' Championship there is still a lot to fight for. Ferrari lead the chase with a small, three-point lead over Williams. McLaren are now unable to win the Championship but could steal second place - with the same luck that would bring Raikkonen the Drivers' Championship.

Renault have been in adrift in a safe fourth for some time now. Again, best-of-the-rest position - the fifth place - is wide open, and as Indianapolis proved for Sauber, one strong result can mix up the order. While Jordan are unlikely to gain a six points' advantage in Japan, Sauber, BAR and Jaguar could all realistically take the fifth spot, with Toyota needing six points (i.e. a third or two cars in the points) and being slightly out of the race.

Last Drives

As the silly season winds down and the facts emerge from the contract negotiations, it is now clear there will be few driver changes for 2004. Half the teams - including the top four teams as well as Toyota - are sticking to their current line-up, with only third driver Allan McNish departing Renault in favour of Frank Montagny.

Sauber are expected to run two new drivers next year, with Fisichella confirmed and Felipe Massa rumoured to be returning in the second car. Also, Suzuka will probably see the departure of Jacques Villeneuve from Formula One, as his replacement at BAR in the form of Takuma Sato has been confirmed and no other drives are available for the popular Canadian.

Jaguar have yet to confirm Webber's partner for 2004. Justin Wilson is a possibility but a better-sponsored driver could also be an option for the team. Minardi are always unclear about their drivers, often the second seat being open in the run up to the first race.

Set-Up and Layout

Most circuits can have their layout summarised as a few small batches of straights/corners. Suzuka defies that method, as it is a circuit with every type of corner, all flowing one into the other in a figure of eight. This year there has been some re-profiling of the track - mainly affecting two corners and shortening the track - but these changes taking nothing away from the track's character.

The opening straight is fast enough in top gear for almost 325km/h going into 'First curve' before a sequence of challenging corners leading to a passing under the bridge and into the hairpin - the first of two slow points on the track. Next is 'Spoon' - a tricky but fast double apex corner that turns the track back on itself and on to the back straight.

One of the best corners in F1 and among the modifications is 130R - a two-radius sweeper on the run from the back straight to the chicane, closing the lap, which now provides a faster and more fluent corner and an earlier turn-in. The 'Casino Triangle' chicane, once almost a dead stop on entry, has been opened up to allow a faster straighter entry. This may affect one of only two overtaking opportunities and ease the track's load on the brakes.

With the car turning almost constantly, the car's balance will be critical, requiring a lot of downforce and mechanical grip. This downforce will be gained at the expense of top speed on the straights, so the teams will be running clever rear wings to reduce drag, while those with powerful engines can afford to push a bigger wing through the air.

Tyres, as always, will be a major focus; Suzuka punishes tyres, with an abrasive surface and long corners putting huge loads through the sidewalls. Both tyre manufacturers have tested last week on similarly rough tracks to find a suitable construction and compound. As the track maintains high speed for so much of the lap it is the front tyres that take the load, and this may play into the hands of Bridgestone runners who cannot normally get the fronts up to temperature. That said, should the temperature be very high in Japan, the advantage will fall to Michelin with their more durable tyres.

Results from qualifying will not necessarily relate to race performance, especially if the harsh surface makes a tyre work over a single lap, but the rapid degradation wrecks the tyres over longer runs. Qualifying will also see the teams carefully choosing their cars' fuel load, as one kilogram of fuel slows the car down at Suzuka most significantly than at other tracks. Many teams will therefore opt for a light fuel load and a short first-stint, stopping early for the first of three stops in the 53-lap race.

A Lap of Suzuka with Kimi Raikkonen

Accelerating along the downhill pit straight at Suzuka, you reach 195mph/312km/h in seventh gear, before lifting slightly for the fast, fifth gear right of First Curve. The track continues to bend to the right through the second corner, which is much tighter and negotiated at 95mph/153km/h in third gear.

A quick burst on the throttle and you reach the left-right-left-right of the 'S' curves, with your speed ranging from 130mph/ 210km/h at the start, to some 86mph/140km/h for the final right-hander. Dunlop Curve is next followed by Degner. The first section of this double right-hander is taken at 115mph/185km/h in fourth gear, before dabbing the brakes for the tighter turn nine, which is taken at 75mph/120km/h in second.

You flow under the bridge as the track kinks to the right slightly leading into the tight hairpin. On the throttle as you exit, before braking for the double apex of Spoon Curve. The first left-hander is entered at 112mph/180km/h in fourth. As you continue round the corner, your speed increases slightly before a dab on the brakes takes your speed down to 87mph/140km/h in third for the second apex.

Powering up through the gears along the back straight, you crossover the track below on the approach to the 130R. Either flat out or with only a slight lift for the fast left-hander, your speed stays around the 170mph/275km/h mark in the corner. Another straight leads to the Casino Triangle chicane. You then sweep back via a long right hander onto the start-finish straight.

Team by Team

Ferrari

With a lead in the Drivers' Championship, Ferrari could be expected to take it easy in Japan. But the prize hasn't been won yet and McLaren cannot be taken for granted. Neither can Michael Schumacher's reliability, which although 100% for the car this year, can't account for an error by Schumacher or another competitor. Moreover, Rubens Barrichello is in line for a possible fourth in the Championship and the team can claim another first in the coveted Constructors' Championship.

Suzuka has been ear marked a Ferrari-Schumacher track for some time. This weekend the car and driver should still be amongst the leaders; the demands on efficient aero and handling plays in favour of the Ferrari car, which is considered superior to the Williams in these respect. But McLaren have an efficient car and the Williams are not trailing far behind.

In moderate weather the harder load on front tyres will work in favour of the Bridgestones and Ferrari's long wheelbase. Moreover, a rain-disrupted race often plays into the hands of Ferrari, and both Barrichello and Schumacher have won on similar tracks (Silverstone and Spain). The two could be expected to claim a win or podium, and based on recent results Barrichello could be in line for a front row start to bolster his chances.

However, Ferrari's starts have never been on par with their rivals, and with many drivers out to make a point in the final race, being bumped off at the first corner is a strong possibility.

Williams

A disastrous Indianapolis race rid Juan Pablo Montoya of his hopes for the 2003 title; his race was strewn with errors and bad luck. Nevertheless, he should have the depth of character to bounce back and take the win to steal second in the Championship from Kimi Raikkonen, making this potentially a closely fought race.

Ralf Schumacher has had bad luck in the late part of the season; his driving and car set up are always right there through the weekend, only for problems to befall him in the race. This weekend he could easily take the win or a podium.

Montoya usually takes until the qualifying warm up session to find his setup - the short wheelbase Williams is very reactive to setup changes and with Frank Dernie as his race engineer, the Colombian has had immense help from the team in this respect.

Also aiding Montoya this weekend - as in Indy - is the latest spec BMW engine pushing the car to even more impressive speeds, with the wings cranked up. This should allow some scope for a better compromise on wing setting this weekend.

McLaren

Suddenly replacing Williams as the WDC challenger, Kimi Raikkonen's season long pace has been rewarded. McLaren have had resources and are throwing everything at the slim chance Raikkonen has of winning the crown. Rumours circulated that the unraced MP4-18 was to be run at Suzuka in an 'all or nothing' strategy, but incomplete crash tests and the risk of losing Raikkonen's second place to Montoya likely quashed those ideas.

Instead, a couple of modifications to the MP4-17D received good feedback after the Silverstone test last week and new Michelin tyres will be all McLaren bring to Japan. Raikkonen has a good chance of winning the race, but the requirement of Schumacher not finishing in the points is beyond McLaren's control.

David Coulthard has little to gain from Suzuka except aiding Raikkonen and getting a good result for his self-confidence. As usual with the Scot this year, race pace can be expected to be better than in qualifying.

Renault

Suzuka is ideal for Renault's chassis, and with engine improvements from recent races bringing even more revs they may be nearing the top three on performance. But, Renault have one crucial advantage: they have little to lose from a risky strategy.

Fernando Alonso has to fight his place in the Drivers' standings, but Jarno Trulli's and the teams' Constructors' standings are safe. Therefore, the team and the Italian driver may opt for a super-light qualifying setup, a lightening start and three fuel stops in order to a second win for Renault and a first for Trulli himself. It would make a great end to the season, but sadly Renault's package may prove to be just a little to far behind the big three.

Sauber

With a more powerful C-spec engine and great progress on the aerodynamics, Sauber made the most of a well-judged switch to Bridgestone intermediates in America. This jumped them well up the Constructors' standings but has flattered their general pace.

It remains to be seen if the changes can see the cars push Jaguar in a dry, uninterrupted race. Furthermore, both Heinz Harald Frentzen and Nick Heidfeld are leaving the team, and without a drive for 2004 on offer they need to impress the other team managers one last time, or leave F1.

Jordan

Although Suzuka is a favourite for both Jordan drivers - with Ralph Firman knowing the track from his Formula Nippon days - nothing suggests the under-developed package of Jordan will improve in Japan. Nevertheless, Jordan will run Formula Nippon winner Satoshi Motoyama for the Friday test session, receiving much needed PR and money.

Jaguar

Jaguar is unexpectedly leading the mid field in the championship; the no-nonsense and conventional R4 has been consistent and well driven in the hands of Mark Webber. His early exit was unfortunate in America, but countered by Justin Wilson's drive clinging onto the wet track and to a point in eighth. This weekend they can expect to keep their lead in at least one title race - and it would be well deserved after the season long effort they have put in.

BAR

For a team that is gaining a reputation for coping with mixed weather races, BAR did manage to lead in America for 15 laps on merit, only for both cars to suffer from BAR's other reputation - chronic unreliability.

This weekend the so-called 'Suzuka special' engine spec will be run, having been tested last week. The scope of the engine changes was not released, but Honda generally has an update for their home race and it has not always been a model of reliability.

Media interest will continue to surround the team, with local press covering Takuma Sato's return to F1 racing next year and the balance of the media hounding Jacques Villeneuve to see where he'll go next year. Jenson Button's continued impressive driving should be rewarded in Suzuka; he needs to get a strong finish in to beat Jaguar and Mark Webber in the title races.

Minardi

Unable to gain any ground in the wet at Indy, Minardi missed out on another and possibly the last points' opportunity of the year. This cost the team more than points - as they will be ineligible for the FIA travel money in 2004. Cost cutting exists at the core of the team and the second-hand PS04 (nee 2002 Arrows A24) was run again in testing and will form the base of the 2004 Minardi.

Toyota

A promising Indianapolis race weekend for Toyota was dashed with the wet track and technical failure for Olivier Panis. Moreover, it's doubtful whether the heavily revised TF103 has the poise to excel in Suzuka - the compromises of adding new aero solutions to an existing design kills the efficiency, costing engine power for the straights to counter the downforce needed in the corners. This weekend Toyota can reflect on an improved season, with hope for 2004. But at the same time they shouldn't expect a strong result in the last round.