The best parties are the ones you don't want to end - and that was the experience for thousands of fans, not to mention many of the drivers and teams, at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.

It had been an emotional occasion as the country staged its first F1 race since the devastating tsunami and earthquake struck Fukushima on March 11. Japan's dignified response to the tragedy won the admiration of the world and was illustrated again with a heart-tugging rendition of Kimigayo, the national anthem, by a girls choir from the stricken prefecture.

Local hero Kamui Kobayashi had already done his part by paying the choir's travel expenses and then enthralling the crowd with a season-best seventh in qualifying. A poor start and difficult race subsequently saw the Sauber driver finish 13th.

Though Kobayashi did not win, fans were treated to the next best thing as Japan's adopted English son, Jenson Button, took the checkered flag in his McLaren. The 2009 world champion is hugely popular in the country thanks to a three-year spell with Honda and the charms of his long-time girlfriend, Jessica Michibata.

So, after a brilliant and tight victory (just two kilos of fuel left in his tank as he held off Ferrari's Fernando Alonso), Button was in high demand. First there was a hug and kiss from an emotional Ms Michibata. While images of the delightful underwear model have been known to make grown men weep, this time she was the one shedding tears, prompting Jenson to announce: "It's the first time I've seen the missus cry at a race!"

Then it was off to the podium to celebrate with Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, whose third place clinched a second successive world championship. Next the trio headed to the "unilateral" television interview room, then the press conference for the world's print media, and finally to the "bull ring" in the paddock to speak with TV and radio networks.

While all this was going on, as darkness fell and the teams dismantled their garages and packed more than 350,000 kilos of cars and equipment to be shipped to Korea for the next race, the grandstand remained full of devoted fans savoring every last moment of an incredible weekend.

They got their reward. Interviews completed, Button climbed on to the pit wall and held aloft the winner's trophy to roars of approval from the thousands who had stayed. This could only happen at Suzuka.

Next door at Red Bull there were more tears as Vettel watched a BBC video montage of the eight drivers who previously had won back-to-back titles. There was only one way to celebrate, of course, and that was to follow Button's example and step outside to salute the grandstand.

More cheers, more tears - and the party kicked off again.

After a successful career on the track, Matthew Marsh now works at JMI - the world's leading motor sport marketing company. He can be reached at mmarsh@justmarketing.com.

Winning Formula

(China Daily 10/13/2011 page23)