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As Clear as Mist

Forty one laps into the Japanese GP, Lewis Hamilton had all but secured the world championship title. Richard Barnes analyses the chips fell in the rookie's favour at Fuji

The body language on the grid for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix spoke volumes about the run-up to the race, in a more eloquent way than any press conference could reveal. McLaren's Fernando Alonso was the picture of quiet confidence, while teammate, main rival and championship leader Lewis Hamilton appeared tense and listless.

Alonso had every reason to feel confident. When the F1 circus returned to the Fuji circuit after an absence of thirty years, the imposing backdrop of Mount Fuji greeted them with swathes of thick mist and downpours. Even though he'd been denied pole by another brilliant last-minute Saturday afternoon effort from Hamilton, the reigning champion's smile and relaxed demeanour on the grid were not faked.

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