Alonso: There was nothing to lose.

Although backed into the situation by his misfortune in qualifying, new world champion Fernando Alonso lived up to his promise to be more aggressive in the first of the season-ending Asian flyaways.

Forced to start 16th after being caught in the heaviest rain of the timed session, Alonso was already up to eighth by the end of the first race lap, and continued his progress to claim a podium spot by the chequered flag. Although his gain was not as great as that recorded by title rival Kimi Raikkonen, who went from 17th to win the race, Alonso produced some of the most dramatic passing moves of the season as he worked his way up the order.

"In the whole championship so far, I did maybe two or three overtaking moves but, in this race, I think I did 14, so it was good," the Spaniard grinned, "Obviously, the championship is not on the mind any more, and there is no need to take care about anything, so I really went for it.

"I was quicker than the people in front of me, so I overtook them. We had an extremely competitive car today - I felt quicker than Kimi for the first time in the last part of the championship - but, unfortunately, I was not able to beat him because of the stops and the traffic."

The two moves that will stick in peoples' minds will be the pass on Michael Schumacher at 130R and Mark Webber into turn one.

"The one on Michael was especially nice," Alonso smiled, "I was much quicker on the straight, he closed the door on the inside, but I was on the inside, flat-out. It was really risky but, as I said before, there was nothing to lose today.

"It was very close with Webber too. I think I tried to overtake him twice, but I wasn't really much faster than him, so I needed a little mistake from him. He made a little mistake at the chicane, so I went for it. I think it was impossible to overtake on the outside, because I tried two or three times with Michael, but I learned the lesson, and really went for the inside. However, there was only grass, there was nothing left of the asphalt, so it was a great move."

Both Alonso and Raikkonen revealed that Suzuka appeared to be more conducive to overtaking this season, making the race more exciting.

"I don't know why, but this year it was a little bit easier to follow people in the first sector, where it's usually really difficult," Alonso noted, "And 130R is easily flat, even if you are following a car just in front of you, and that makes the chicane a good opportunity."

"I definitely think the nature of the circuit seems to somehow suit this year's car better than other years," Raikkonen added, "There was quite a big speed difference with some cars on the straight, and I think the quick left-hander [130R] is easier so you can follow [another car] through, going flat behind people. That makes it easier to try and overtake into the chicane and onto the main straight."