It's almost time. The cars once again have hit the track for testing, with the 2011 models fresh off the showroom floor.

Storylines abound, especially as to whether reigning Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel again can claim the title. It's no doubt a long road, and one filled with obstacles brought about by competitors, tracks and the car itself. His RB5's unreliable nature last year nearly sidelined his title chances, but as with every new year there is overwhelming optimism.

Relatively recent history says Vettel has about a 50 percent chance of repeating. Since 1990, a driver has had the opportunity to defend his title with the same team 14 times. Of those, a driver has repeated eight times. True, five of those were by Michael Schumacher, and the last two drivers with a shot at repeating with the same team, Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton, have failed to do so.

After three initial days of testing to start the season, it was Robert Kubica and Lotus Renault who struck the first blow with the quickest time of the week, but it likely means very little, as several teams were still fielding outdated cars. Kubica's availability for the start of the year is also now in doubt after a bad rallying accident a few days later.

The talk of the week was the Renault R31's new exhaust system, which appears to exit around the sidepods rather than toward the rear. Time will tell if it becomes a clear advantage, but it conjures up memories of recent technology that has taken the sport by storm.

Last year, the F-duct dominated summer headlines, with teams attempting to perfect the technology for fast tracks like Spa and Monza. The year before, Brawn GP took advantage of a double-diffuser design. In 2011, the key technology could be the movable rear wing, KERS or something not yet introduced to the F1 world.

One certainty is that these new cars demand a fairly high learning curve, as Mercedes pilot Nico Rosberg detailed to reporters. "I tried the rear wing and that is going to take some getting used to," Rosberg said. "I pushed the button, the thing goes down at the back and you suddenly feel the car go lighter. Then you release the button again before braking and you think, 'Jeez this thing hasn't actually gone back to its original position.' So yes, it's going to take some time to get used to, I think."

Concerns aside, the 2011 season is nearly upon us. So what can fans look forward to this year from a statistical perspective? Fernando Alonso's climb up Formula One's all-time wins list could certainly be a large headline. Entering the year, the Spaniard sits sixth on the list, just one shy of Jackie Stewart. With five victories, the amount he earned in 2010, he'll match another British great, Nigel Mansell. That would leave only Schumacher, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna with more career victories than Alonso.

From a constructor angle, Red Bull is one win shy of matching Cooper for the 10th most by a team in F1 history. That may not sound overly impressive, but the team has only existed for six years, and all 15 of those wins have come in the past two seasons. If the team can keep up that recent pace, it will take just three seasons before Red Bull is the fifth-winningest constructor in F1 history.

Two F1 veterans are also primed to reach milestone marks this year. Lotus driver and 2004 Monaco champion Jarno Trulli likely will see his 250th grand prix, while the man who finished second in that race, Jenson Button, is primed to make his 200th start midway through the season.

A smaller storyline centers around which driver will earn rookie of the year honors. Kamui Kobayashi, last year's winner, will be paired up with a man eligible for that award, Sergio Perez of Mexico. Perez's opportunity in the sport has come courtesy of telecommunications giant Telmex, and he faces some stiff competition in the forms of Paul di Resta, Jerome d'Ambrosio and Pastor Maldonado. Perez is just the fifth driver from Mexico to compete in F1 and the first since 1981.

Of the four listed in the accompanying graphic, only Pedro Rodriguez found substantial success, winning twice and finishing on the podium seven times.

The Formula One offseason continues to deliver new launch dates and driver changes, but compared to last year at this time, it's been downright quiet.

[+] Enlarge
Ronny Hartmann/Getty ImagesReigning DTM champ Paul di Resta reportedly will drive for Force India in 2011.

In early 2010, reigning champion Jenson Button was joining 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, Michael Schumacher's comeback was official, Fernando Alonso was to join Ferrari, leaving Kimi Raikkonen out of the game, four new teams were set to join the grid amid considerable rules changes, and the fate of USF1 was still very much in question.

This year, it's more of the back-end teams making the headlines, as well as Ferrari. The Prancing Horse outfit is certainly ruling the offseason, with team boss Luca di Montezemolo slamming the engine changes slated for 2013 as well as predicting that current champion Sebastian Vettel would be in a Ferrari uniform eventually.

Elsewhere, a few new drivers are set to be in the mix this year. Former reserve driver and latest DTM champion Paul di Resta will be driving for Force India in 2011 alongside Adrian Sutil, according to Swiss newspaper Blick. If accurate, di Resta will be the fifth DTM champion to have also competed in F1, but just the second to do so after having won the German touring car series title. The other was Eric van de Poele, who won the DTM title in 1987 and then raced in Formula One in 1991 and 1992.

The man has strong backing from Vettel, against whom he competed in F3 Euroseries. Vettel actually finished second to di Resta during the 2006 season, so the Scot will certainly be a driver to watch with Force India this season.

Also in the news is that Jerome d'Ambrosio will get an opportunity at Virgin. Long speculated as Lucas di Grassi's replacement, d'Ambrosio has his work cut out for him. Understandably, he finished behind teammate Timo Glock on the time charts in all four of the Friday practice sessions he competed in last year (Singapore, Japan, Korea and Brazil) and his learning curve will no doubt be steep for 2011.

Narain Karthikeyan, a man who last competed in F1 in 2005 for Jordan, also will be making laps this year, this time for HRT. It's rather fitting, as the first Indian in F1 history likely will be racing in the first Formula One event to take place in India. Since 2000, his five-season absence from the grid is the longest among any driver.

Karthikeyan ran a partial Camping World Truck Series schedule this past year in the states, and, therefore, his transition back to Formula One no doubt will be a difficult one. It still pales in comparison to Luca Badoer, however.

The Italian raced for Minardi during the 1999 season, and while frequently a test driver following that stint, he did not compete again until 2009, when he filled in for an injured Felipe Massa. Needless to say, he had a very rough go of it.

Elsewhere, the FIA has officially lifted the restriction on team orders, but one driver has stated that fans should not become too concerned.

Late last year Mark Webber told BBC Radio 5 Live, "People shouldn't get too nervous about it. They're not going to see it every weekend. I think the Ferrari one was pretty brutal and that's as bad as it gets. When you've got two drivers driving for a team and you can swing the results around every now and again to help the team achieve a better result ... it has been done in the past, it's been done up and down the field. I've done it myself at times. I've been on the receiving end of it and done it as well in teams I've driven for in the past."

Whether you're a fan of it or not, team orders always have been a part of Formula One, and last year's debacle involving Ferrari revealed how little the ban actually meant, as the team avoided a truly harsh penalty.

The engines are quiet, but the offseason noise has just begun in Formula One.

Launch dates, rule alterations and driver changes are just a few items occupying F1 teams at the moment, and there is much work to be done prior to Bahrain in March.

Among the younger teams, Lotus seems to have a distinct advantage considering it began preparations for 2011 very early on last year, announcing intentions to focus on the coming year's car as early as May.

With a new engine supplier -- Renault -- Lotus could show strong improvement next season, whichever name they end up running under.

One rookie, Kamui Kobayashi, was very deserving of a race seat for 2011, and he received one by returning to Sauber.

Another rookie, however, was not as fortunate as 2009 GP2 champion Nico Hulkenberg was left without a starting ride for next season when he was replaced by Pastor Maldonado at Williams.

It's a fantastic opportunity for reigning GP2 title-winner Maldonado, but he will inevitably be compared to the man he replaced, as both made their entry into F1 via Williams immediately following a GP2 championship.

Maldonado has a considerable amount to live up to, considering Hulkenberg managed to earn points in seven races this season, the second-highest total by an F1 rookie driving for Williams since 1996.

There are several variables over the years, of course.

Hulkenberg had the benefit of several more races and an expanded points system. But he also had a less competitive car than Jacques Villeneuve in 1996, when Williams finished first and second in the drivers standings.

Hulkenberg's season was by no means bulletproof, but his progress as the year unfolded was undeniable.

In his first 11 races, Hulkenberg earned just two points, but in the final eight race weekends the young German collected 20. Equally impressive is the fact that he had just one retirement in his final 10 events of the year.

He capped it all off with pole position in Brazil.

Elsewhere, Michael Schumacher no doubt raised a few eyebrows in early December when he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, "We will make a big leap forward and -- if all goes well -- win races."

A 91-time winner in the series would normally be taken at his word, but after a trying 2010 season, questions certainly abound.

If Schumacher wants to have any chance at winning races next season, he'll have to start beating teammate Nico Rosberg, who consistently outpaced the seven-time world champion last season; Rosberg scored better than Schumacher in numerous metrics.

Keep in mind, twice Schumacher finished better than Rosberg when his young teammate retired after accidents that were out of his control. One came at Japan. Another occurred at Korea when Mark Webber lost control and came back across the track, collecting Rosberg in the process.

Yet another better finish came in Hungary when Rosberg lost his wheel on pit road while running well ahead of his teammate. Pirelli's tire may suit Schumacher better, but in order to realistically target wins in 2011, he'll have to tackle his teammate first.

Making some back-page headlines recently was also the news that American Alexander Rossi had recorded the fourth-fastest time in the GP2 tests at Abu Dhabi.

Rossi finished fourth in GP3 this past season, and could be America's most likely candidate for a future F1 seat.

A driver from the United States is paramount in the upcoming years, as F1 is set to return stateside in 2012.

In years past, the sport has been woefully underrepresented by Americans.

Scott Speed was the most recent American to compete, but after an underwhelming tenure he was replaced by Sebastian Vettel at Toro Rosso.

Prior to that, no American had raced in Formula One since Michael Andretti in 1993.

It's incredible to think that no one from the United States has won a grand prix since Mario Andretti in 1978, and only four Americans have competed in F1 events since 1983 (the year after Andretti's final F1 season).

Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesSebastian Vettel seemed to be an unlikely champion only a few races ago.

It was a season that delivered seemingly everything.

The comeback of a seven-time World Champion, the remarkable return of a driver struck down by injury the season prior, past champions in new race seats, and an incredible title battle that went down to the last laps.

Abu Dhabi had everyone guessing who would become champion throughout much of the race, and the title picture only became clear after the sun had set in the Middle East.

Much of the talk entering race day was whether Sebastian Vettel would aid Mark Webber in his title pursuit if needed. It turned out to be the complete opposite scenario, and Vettel drove his heart out in pursuit of the title. By the narrow edge of four points, it was his, as Fernando Alonso could not manage to overtake Vitaly Petrov and finish a final championship charge.

Vettel's season was one of turmoil and vast uncertainty, but he came through when it counted most, as three of his five wins this season came in the final four events. He's now the youngest World Champion in history at 23 years and four months.

Vettel is also the second German to win an F1 crown, alongside Michael Schumacher. His late-season heroics mean that fans have seen the championship lead change hands in the final race of the year in two of the past four seasons, and the margin of victory in the title race has been four points or fewer in three of the last four years.

Incredibly, Vettel had never held an outright lead in the championship standings before Abu Dhabi in his career. He's now done just about everything a young driver can do in Formula One, setting numerous age records in the process. Winning Monaco is one of the few remaining challenges he has not conquered, but several Monte Carlo wins are likely in his future.

The nation of Germany now has eight world titles, all coming since 1994. That's tied for the second most by a single nation all-time with Brazil, and behind only Great Britain.

We likely will look back on this era in F1 with fond memories, as it has delivered some fantastic championship battles. With a sizeable amount of young talent on the grid, the championship fight between the likes of young guns and more experienced drivers promises to wage on for years to come.

And alas, another Ferrari driver, much like Felipe Massa in 2008, feels the sting of losing out on the title by the narrowest of margins. It is of course no consolation to Alonso, but he can still become the youngest to win a third title next year if he snatches the championship.

Webber is relegated to a third-place finish in the points, still the best of his career. Before his fourth-place finish in 2009, he had never placed better than 10th.

And something to think about as we head into the offseason; in the heart of the Middle Eastern desert, a German driving for an Austrian-owned constructor claims the championship.

His teammate, an Australian, came close to the title. So did a Spaniard, who drives for an Italian outfit, but he could not manage to get by a Russian to keep his championship hopes alive.

The previous two champions, both from England, were among the first to congratulate the new title holder as he emerged from his car. Next year, F1 welcomes India to the grid, and the year after, returns to the United States. Formula One has truly gone global.

Clive Mason/Getty ImagesRed Bull Racing secured the constructors' championship after Sebastian Vettel's victory in Brazil.

For the fourth time in five years, fans must wait until the season finale before a Formula One champion is crowned.

After a stunning pole by Nico Hulkenberg at Brazil, the race order was quickly sorted out, as both Red Bull drivers overtook the young German before the first lap was over. It was only a matter of time before Fernando Alonso got by Hulkenberg for third, and from that point on, the racing was fairly tame, as Alonso did not relinquish his position.

Up front, Red Bull looked virtually unbeatable, as Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber quickly stormed to a significant lead over the field. It was exactly the race that the team needed, and the 1-2 finish clinched the first constructors' championship in team history. It's now been two consecutive years with a constructor clinching a championship before a driver (Brawn claimed last year's), the first time that has happened since BRM won in 1962 and Lotus took its maiden title the following season.

In the end, Vettel was first across the line, and is now 15 points shy of leader Alonso. In order to win the title, however, he'll also have to overtake his teammate Webber, who is just eight points shy in the championship fight. Vettel appears up to his tricks from last year, as he's making a late-season surge yet again, having now won two of the past three races. In 2009, while attempting to chase down Jenson Button, Vettel claimed wins in two of the final three race weekends, including at Abu Dhabi (although Button had clinched by then). He has a very good chance to win there again, which immediately brings to mind some title scenarios.

If Vettel does win this race for the second straight year, he could claim the title if Alonso finishes fifth or worse, regardless of where Webber finishes. If Webber were to finish second in that scenario, the two Red Bull drivers would finish with the same number of points, but Vettel would have one more victory (they are tied with four wins each). Alonso also would be embroiled in the tie, but Vettel would win that tiebreaker as well; the two would have the same number of wins, so it would then move to second-place finishes. Both would be equal in those finishes as well, as is the case with third-place results. Since Vettel would have one more fourth-place finish than Alonso, he'd be the title winner.

Certainly one of the more complex scenarios, but Alonso can eliminate all that with a finish of fourth if Vettel wins and second if Webber claims victory.

The top drivers will have to be on their game Sunday at Abu Dhabi, but it is a much more forgiving track than others on the calendar, as there are ample runoff areas in the turns and very few locations where a driver has the potential to seriously damage his car.

Yas Marina is a stunning track and locale, but unfortunately the racing was not up to par in the inaugural event last year. It is the sixth-longest track on the schedule, and interestingly enough, the four drivers still mathematically alive for the championship all have at least one victory on the five circuits with a longer length this season, so the win is truly up for grabs.

There are so many storylines entering the finale. If Alonso claims his third title, he'd become the youngest to do so by two full years, as he's only 29.

Youngest driver to win a third F1 title
Ayrton Senna -- 31 years, 6 months
Michael Schumacher -- 31 years, 9 months
Fernando Alonso is 29 years, 3 months

Webber and Vettel are simply chasing their first titles after rather opposite careers. While Vettel has stormed onto the scene, his Australian teammate drifted between several squads since his debut in 2002 and did not earn his first win until just last season. If either were to overtake Alonso in the final race of the year, it'd be the second time in four seasons that the championship lead changed hands in the finale.

The championship lead changed after the final race (since 1990):

Year -- Leader entering -- Champion
2007 -- Lewis Hamilton -- Kimi Raikkonen
1999 -- Eddie Irvine -- Mika Hakkinen
1997 -- Michael Schumacher -- Jacques Villeneuve

Overall, however, it's fairly rare for the points lead to shift in the final race of the year; since 1990, it has happened just three times.

The youngest race and pole winner in F1 history is also seeking to become the youngest F1 world champion. If Vettel can somehow manage a title win Sunday, he'll eclipse Hamilton by several months for that honor.

Youngest F1 champion
Lewis Hamilton -- 2008; 23 years, 9 months
Fernando Alonso -- 2005; 24 years, 1 month
Sebastian Vettel is 23 years, 4 months

[+] Enlarge
Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesFernando Alonso takes an 11-point lead over Mark Webber into the Grand Prix of Brazil.

We could see a 2010 world champion crowned in Brazil on Sunday. In all reality, it would not be that unlikely to see Fernando Alonso earning his third career title in Interlagos. For the Spaniard to clinch, he would have win and Mark Webber would need to finish fifth or worse.

True, Alonso has never won at Interlagos and failed to make it past the first lap last year, while Webber is the defending race champion. But Alonso has five podium finishes there in eight starts, and teammate Felipe Massa (a two-time Brazil winner) no doubt will be aiding him in any way possible this weekend. Massa likely will be more motivated than ever, as it is his first return to this race since his accident over a year ago.

One must also consider that in each of the past three times that Webber has finished fifth or worse, Alonso has been on the top step of the podium.

Mark Webber's last three finishes of fifth or worse:

Race -- Place -- Winner
• Korea -- 23rd -- Alonso
• Italy -- sixth -- Alonso
• Germany -- sixth -- Alonso

It is certainly not over, and an 11-point lead is by no means bulletproof. Imagine, however, if Alonso does win the title. Not only would it be his third overall, but he'd become the 10th driver to win championships in Formula One with at least two teams. The list contains nearly all the greats, and if Alonso joins it, he should be considered one of the best ever.

Drivers who have won F1 titles with multiple teams:

Driver -- Teams
• Juan Manuel Fangio -- Four
• Jack Brabham -- Two
• Graham Hill -- Two
• Jackie Stewart -- Two
• Emerson Fittipaldi -- Two
• Niki Lauda -- Two
• Nelson Piquet -- Two
• Alain Prost -- Two
• Michael Schumacher -- Two

Alonso would be the first to do it since 2000, when Michael Schumacher, who won two titles with Benetton, brought Ferrari its first champion since 1979.

Brazil will provide a tough challenge for Alonso and the field alike, as the circuit is counter-clockwise. Its short length and twisty back section allow for few breathers, and numerous drivers mention how it's a great strain on the neck.

Last year's event had some spectacular crashes, especially the incident between Jarno Trulli and Adrian Sutil. The conclusion of the race saw a still-recovering Massa waiving the checkered flag as Webber crossed the line first. More importantly, Jenson Button had just clinched his first world championship.

The shortest tracks on the F1 circuit:

Track -- Length (kilometers)
• Monaco -- 3.34
• Brazil -- 4.31
• Canada -- 4.36

A few trends could again be present in Brazil, including the fact that since 2004, beginning with Juan Pablo Montoya, every winner has started third or better on the grid. All but one of those came from a front-row spot (Kimi Raikkonen started third in 2007).

Interlagos has been very friendly to Brazilians as well. In the 27 races run there, a native countryman has won seven times, most of any nationality:

Wins by nationality at Interlagos
• Brazil -- Seven
• Germany -- Four
• France -- Three
• Great Britain -- Three
• Finland -- Three

Brazilian Massa should be primed for a very strong finish here. Not only has he posted five finishes of fourth or better in his past seven races overall, but he's won two of the past three Brazilian events he has competed in and finished runner-up to teammate Raikkonen in 2007.

Sauber pilot Kamui Kobayashi also has a good chance to perform well at Brazil. This is where he made his F1 debut last year for Toyota, and it was impressive. Kobayashi finished ninth and on the lead lap, and that performance, along with his sixth-place result at Abu Dhabi, was a big reason he was such an attractive driver to teams this past offseason.

Webber is not the only one still chasing Alonso. Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel still have shots at the title, albeit slim ones. But if Alonso suffers a rare retirement, then so much can change in an instant, as has been the case at Turkey, Germany and Korea this season.

AP Photo/Greg BakerFernando Alonso has good reason to celebrate, holding the championship lead with two races to go.

Every season has those title moments, the ones that define championships for some and spoil dreams for others.

Early on, Korea appeared as if it would do neither, with downpours threatening to cut the points earnings in half with much of the race run behind the safety car.

But the race was able to go on, and once the green flag dropped, some entertaining events ensued.

A huge title moment happened early on, when Mark Webber touched the curbs and subsequently spun out of control into the wall. His race was over, as was that of the man he collected, Nico Rosberg.

Webber's teammate, Sebastian Vettel, marched on and led late before his engine gave out, paving the way for Fernando Alonso to take the victory.

It was another nightmare event for Red Bull and the opposite for Alonso and Ferrari.

Alonso's incredible season continues, as he has now won three of the past four races.

He has regained the title lead for the first time since Australia, a span of 14 straight races trailing in the standings. That will be the longest such stretch over the past 15 years by a title winner if Alonso holds on, surpassing Kimi Raikkonen's drought in 2007 between title leads.

If Alonso does go on to take the championship, he'll continue the notable trend of season-opening winners who go on to claim the title that same year. In the previous four seasons, the winner of the first race has won the title. Alonso, of course, won at Bahrain to start this season.

It is certainly not over, as four drivers remain within a win of each other. The defending world champion, Jenson Button, seems down and out, but it was definitely a respectable season for him, as he won two of the year's first four events and was in title contention for the majority of the season.

Indeed, this year is reminiscent of 1981, when five drivers separated themselves from the field in the title pursuit.

Williams teammates Carlos Reutimann and Alan Jones then, like Red Bull's Webber and Vettel now, were in their second season together and were vying for the championship. Each of those teams had an Australian (Jones and Webber).

And perhaps Alonso is taking a page from Frenchman Jacques Laffite, who trailed considerably in the '81 title race before a late-season charge put him in the mix. Laffite is more of an extreme example, and Alonso may accomplish what Laffite could not that season by winning the Formula One title in 2010.

While Vettel, a man who excels in the rain, was leading for most of the race, another driver renowned for his drives in the wet is Lewis Hamilton, who placed second at Korea.

Hamilton has kept himself in the title race, but he has his work cut out for him over the final two events. A podium finish at Korea seemed even sweeter when it is considered that it provided nine retirements, one shy of the season high.

An honorable mention is due for Michael Schumacher. His fourth-place finish at Korea was tied for his best of the season. His five places gained in the race was his most all year.

Curious minds no doubt wonder how Alonso has faired in the past at the next track, Interlagos. While he's never won at the circuit in F1, his five podiums there are tied with Catalunya and Spain for his most at any Formula One track.

In fact, his performances at Catalunya and Interlagos have mirrored each other throughout the years.

In the past eight seasons of Alonso's career, he's had four seasons in which he has finished on the podium in both events.

He's also had three years in which he's finished off the podium in both races, so Alonso has one season in which he's finished among the top three in one race and outside the top three in the other. That's great news for the Spaniard, as he finished second in his home race this season.

Korea's event on the calendar represents so much of what Formula One is becoming, an ever-expanding sport that continues to delve into new markets, including India and Russia in the near future. While it is certainly exciting to venture into the unknown, it leaves a considerable number of questions to be answered by both the teams and the spectators.

[+] Enlarge
Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesSebastian Vettel celebrates after winning the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on Oct. 10.

Fans want to see competitive racing on exciting tracks, and the newer circuits on the calendar have been a mixed bag of late. The season finale last year at Abu Dhabi left much to be desired, while the spectacle that is Singapore has quickly become a favorite among drivers and fans alike. It's a very delicate balance between adding venues while ensuring that the traditional tracks, such as Spa, Monaco, Monza and Silverstone, remain on the schedule each season. It is no secret that new locales offer huge financial opportunities compared to long-standing events, but Korea is an interesting example.

The track is hours away from South Korea's capital of Seoul and provides a challenge for teams in regards to car setup, as the circuit not only has the longest straight on the F1 calendar (more than a kilometer) but also a mixture of several fast and slow corners. There's also the issue of it being a new track, with grip levels near zero for the race weekend.

A few drivers in the field have the benefit of winning at a new track recently. Sebastian Vettel claimed victory at Abu Dhabi last year, another circuit that runs counter clockwise. Two years ago, Felipe Massa won the first race on the Valencia Street Circuit, while Fernando Alonso took the victory at Singapore in a most controversial fashion that same season.

Drivers who have won on a new track (since 2008):

Alonso may take the checkered flag at Korea, as he's finished very well at several circuits this year that emphasize straight-line speed. While he had to retire at Spa, the Spaniard won at Monza, the fastest track on the schedule. Monza was one of the tracks this season that concerned Red Bull, as the team has not been the quickest on straightaways. That could also mean that the playing field is more so leveled for McLaren as well, considering Lewis Hamilton won at a very fast Spa this summer and is one of the best at adapting to new venues quickly. In 2008, he finished second at Valencia and third at Singapore. Last year in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton took the pole but had to retire with brake issues.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner summed up his concerns to reporters earlier: "Korea is new for everybody, but looking at the track layout -- with the longest straight on the calendar -- you'd have to say that's going to be tough for us because of the package we have. But Sectors 2 and 3 have quite a lot of fast, flowing corners so hopefully they should suit our chassis strengths more."

So much is on the line at a track where so little is known. Three drivers are within a race win of each other, with two more just beyond. To put that better into perspective, in the epic title years of 2007 and 2008, only two drivers were within a win of each other atop the standings with three races remaining.

Most drivers within a race win with three races remaining (since 2000):

• 2010 -- three
• 2003 -- three
• 2008 -- two
• 2007 -- two
• 2006 -- two
• 2000 -- two

Another angle entering this weekend would be to take a look at how the contenders have faired in Asia this season. In the four events on the continent thus far (Malaysia, China, Singapore and Japan), Vettel has really shined, scoring three podiums and two wins, including at Japan just recently. Compare that to an average finishing mark of 7.1 everywhere else, and it is likely that Vettel is very happy to be back on Asian soil. Teammate Mark Webber has also been very strong in Asia, with a 3.8 average finish. It's Hamilton who has had the issues, compiling an average finish of eighth while reaching the podium only once.

Best average finish among contenders in Asian races this season:

• Sebastian Vettel -- 2.5 (2 wins)
• Mark Webber -- 3.8 (0)
• Jenson Button -- 4.3 (1)
• Fernando Alonso -- 5.3 (1)
• Lewis Hamilton -- 8.0 (0)

AP Photo/The Yomiuri ShimbunFelipe Massa tried to do too much too fast in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka after a poor qualifying effort.

For the title contenders, survival has become the name of the game.

After a chaotic race at Suzuka, especially at the start, the importance of a strong starting position on the grid is in focus again.

Without it, you risk getting caught up in the mayhem. Fernando Alonso's teammate will likely tell you as much. Felipe Massa started 12th after a poor qualifying effort, and after trying to do too much before the first bend, collected Vitantonio Liuzzi after veering off track.

While Massa is not in the title hunt, he's a very experienced driver who rarely makes mistakes. But the pressure of getting a superb start from mid-pack can get the best of even the most seasoned pilots, and the five drivers still in pursuit of the series championship should certainly be wary.

Aside from the start, Suzuka yielded few surprises in regards to finishing order. The five title hopefuls occupied the top five places, with Sebastian Vettel leading teammate Mark Webber to the line. Red Bull was the favorite entering, and track time prior to the race was limited due to the horrendous weather.

In the meantime, Alonso continued his run of podiums, as the Spaniard has found himself among the top three in five of the past six races.

But it was Vettel who occupied the top step, a sight many figured to see much more often than has played out this season.

After all, Suzuka was his first victory since Valencia in June, which was eight races ago. More importantly, Vettel made up seven valuable points on Webber, and along with Alonso, is 14 points behind the Australian for the championship lead.

While Vettel has been inconsistent this season, his short career has already been very impressive.

In only his third full season, he has already finished as high as second in the points (last season) and has eight race wins, more than every other driver except Lewis Hamilton since the start of 2008.

It is obvious to say that Vettel has made his fair share of mistakes, but he's an unbelievable talent who is just 23, and he'll likely be a multiple-time champion before his career is over.

And while many view Michael Schumacher 's 91 career wins as untouchable, Vettel is one of a few current drivers with the best chance to at least match Alain Prost in second with 51 victories, benefiting not only from remarkable skill sets, but also due to entering into Formula One at such a young age.

Prost got a relatively late start in Formula One and did not get his first win until his second season (1981), when he was already 26.

Because of the early starts by Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton, those three drivers could easily occupy spots two through four on the all-time wins list before their careers are over.

Also worth a mention from the weekend is Kamui Kobayashi's performance in front of his home crowd. The hometown favorite finished seventh after starting 14th and leads all rookies this season in points earned with 27.

If he can cut down on the retirements, he has the potential to be a star in this sport.

Korea, quite possibly the most intriguing event of the season, is up next.

Not much is known about how this event will play out, but the circuit itself is certainly unique. Two long straights are punctuated with some sharp, slow corners, and the entire second half of the circuit is a mix of twists and turns.

Likely the best, and possibly only, overtaking opportunities will be at the end of the main straights entering Turns 1 and 3. It could very well be a fairly processional race which sees little passing.

If you were to look at the history that has happened at Suzuka, you would think it has been on the Formula One calendar since the very beginning.

In a relatively short time since the figure-eight circuit began hosting F1 events (1987), it has been home to a considerable amount of history. After all, it was the epicenter of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna's rivalry, as the two collided on track in 1989 and again in 1990. Both clashes resulted in titles being decided.

It also witnessed Michael Schumacher clinching a record sixth world championship in 2003, edging out relative newcomer Kimi Raikkonen for the title by a narrow 2-point margin.

[+] Enlarge
Prevost/US PresswireSebastian Vettel has had his moments in 2010, just not enough good ones.

Suzuka has been known to provide a harsh welcome to one particular rookie. Making his F1 debut in 1993, Eddie Irvine passed leader Senna in Japan to remain on the lead lap. Senna expressed his displeasure by then punching Irvine after the race.

Five years ago this weekend, one of the greatest races in the modern era transpired as Kimi Raikkonen started 17th on the grid but made a daring move around Giancarlo Fisichella on the final lap to earn the victory. It capped one of the most entertaining and exciting races in recent memory.

The circuit has also been hospitable toward one team in particular: Ferrari. Not only does the Prancing Horse have the most wins of any constructor at the track, but it earned one very special win in the inaugural Suzuka race.

Entering that event, the most prestigious manufacturer had failed to win in its last 37 events, the longest drought in team history. But Gerhard Berger piloted his Ferrari to victory, snapping a drought that had lasted more than two years.

Perhaps it will again prove a track suited for Ferrari.

Fernando Alonso has won here before, claiming a crucial victory in the second-to-last race of the 2006 season en route to his second consecutive world championship.

The man he is chasing in the standings this season, Mark Webber, has had significantly less success at Suzuka.

In six races there, Webber has finished in the points just once, back in 2005 with Williams. Last year with Red Bull, Webber finished third from last and two laps off the pace after starting from pit lane, stemming from an accident during practice.

But teammate Sebastian Vettel won here last year, and told reporters before this year's event that things may be looking up.

"Suzuka should suit our car, but we still have to go there and prove it.," Vettel said. "I think we have a very competitive car this year on all circuits, so we can be confident.

"Last year was very good and I think we should get a good result again."

One thing is certain; Alonso's charge for the 2010 title has been remarkable. In his past five races, he's earned nearly as many points as he did in the first 10 events this season. Compared to his first 10, Alonso has also tallied more wins, podiums and poles in his past five grand prix events.

As for Webber, there is still so much to be optimistic about. He leads the championship, and has shown more consistency than most this year, especially his teammate Vettel.

But if Webber does finish runner-up -- or worse -- in the title hunt, it will fit a similar pattern of Australians suffering heartbreak in the motorsports world this season.

It began with Marcos Ambrose, who through a down season was primed to earn his first Sprint Cup win at Sonoma in June.

The Australian V8 Supercars champion was leading under caution late in the race when he momentarily failed to restart the engine. Ambrose was managing fuel, but failed to maintain pace, a move that ultimately cost him the win.

It continued just days ago, when fellow Australian Will Power, seeking his first IndyCar Series title, lost the championship by just five points in the final race of the year to Dario Franchitti. After dominating the early portion of the season, Power struggled on the oval-heavy schedule down the stretch, and ended up losing the lead in the season finale at Homestead.

In Formula One, Australia is seeking its first champion since Alan Jones was the top man 30 years ago.

No matter who you root for, it truly would be difficult to see a veteran like Webber come so close after so long and yet wind up just short.