Millions of Italians who got up early on Sunday morning to watch the Suzuka showdown had to put their drinks back on ice.

Ferrari did finally end their 16-year wait for the constructors title.





Irvine: Came third in the race, second overall

Ferrari hopeful Eddie Irvine's challenge was being called the "Red Dawn" in Italy.

Restaurants and nightclubs stayed open to broadcast the last, crucial race of the season.

And in Ferrari's home town in northern Italy, tens of thousands of fans - known as the "Tifosi" - watched the decider on three maxi-screens erected by local officials.

Bells silent

Maranello is where they make Ferraris, where the Grand Prix team is based.





Church bells did not ring this time

Maranello's many Ferrari drivers gather in the main square, sounding their horns. The church bells ring.

Even the local priest is found glued to his television set on race Sundays.

But Don Alberto Bernardoni's planned bell ringing will have to wait for next season.

The knife-edge appeal decision to re-instate Ferrari's one-two finish in Malaysia notwithstanding, the Italian manufacturer finally ran out of luck.

Tifosi tributes

Instead, Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo paid tribute to world champion Hakkinen.

Despite the disappointment, Montezemolo and the fans in Maranello were sporting in defeat, with the Ferrari president saying: "Hakkinen had a great race, he deserved the drivers' title, just as Ferrari deserved the constructors' title."

Montezemolo mingled briefly with the crowds outside the Ferrari factory, shaking hands and thanking people for their support.

Red Dawn may have ended in Ferrari failure, but there was still widespread applause for the Finn's deserved victory.

Around 40,000 of the Tifosi packed the streets to watch the action, but the fans began leaving a dozen laps before the Grand Prix ended - already convinced that the 20-year title quest would have to wait for at least another 12 months.