Fernando Alonso has conceded the fight for the Formula One title is over after Sebastian Vettel's Japanese Grand Prix win.
Vettel's fourth win in five years at the Japanese Grand Prix gave him his fifth straight grand prix victory in the current campaign, a personal best.
Since the summer break the 26-year-old German has been unstoppable, and with a 90-point lead over Alonso with 100 to play for, there is now only one outcome as far as the Spaniard is concerned.
Vettel celebrates another Grand Prix win
"Even if Sebastian retired from all four remaining races, I would have to win all of them," said Alonso, who finished fourth and 45 seconds behind Vettel.
"So it's only a matter of time before he will be champion. We have different goals now.
"We will continue to try to do our best on Sundays, and when it is mathematically settled we will congratulate him."
Vettel wins Japanese GP
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(01 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(02 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: (L-R) Race winner Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium with third placed Romain Grosjean of France and Lotus following the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(03 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: (L-R) Race winner Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium with third placed Romain Grosjean of France and Lotus following the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(04 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing drives on his way to winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(05 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(06 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(07 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(08 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(09 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates with team mates in the pitlane after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(10 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates with team mates in the pitlane after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(11 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates with team mates in the pitlane after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1(12 of32)
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (L) listens to his team principal Christian Horner (R) after the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1(13 of32)
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (L) listens to his team principal Christian Horner (R) after the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1(14 of32)
Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel of Germany (front L) and Mark Webber of Australia (front R) celebrate their 1-2 finish with team's principal Christian Horner (front C) after the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(15 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(16 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates with team mates in the pitlane after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1-PODIUM(17 of32)
First-placed Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel (L) of Germany and third-placed Lotus driver Romain Grosjean (R) of France drink champagne during the awarding ceremony of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1(18 of32)
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany holds up the trophy to celebrate his victory during the awarding ceremony of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013.AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1(19 of32)
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (front L) celebrates his win with a teammate after the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1-PODIUM(20 of32)
First-placed Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel (L) of Germany, second-placed his teammate Mark Webber (2nd L) of Australia and third-placed Lotus driver Romain Grosjean (R) of France spray champagne during the awarding ceremony of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1(21 of32)
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates his win after the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1-PODIUM(22 of32)
Second-placed Red Bull driver Mark Webber (L) of Australia is congratulated by his first-placed teammate Sebastian Vettel (R) of Germany during the awarding ceremony of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1-PODIUM(23 of32)
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany holds up the trophy to celebrate his victory during the awarding ceremony of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1-PODIUM(24 of32)
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany holds up the trophy to celebrate his victory during the awarding ceremony of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1-PODIUM(25 of32)
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany tosses the trophy into the air to celebrate his victory during the awarding ceremony of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1-PODIUM(26 of32)
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany holds up the trophy to celebrate his victory during the awarding ceremony of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(27 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(28 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(29 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(30 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-JPN-F1-PODIUM(31 of32)
Winner Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany tosses the trophy on the podium during the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka on October 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Japan - Race(32 of32)
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 13: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium after winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 13, 2013 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
At this rate, Vettel is on course to equal Alberto Ascari's all-time F1 record of nine consecutive race victories, set over the 1952 and 1953 seasons.