He is almost a victim of the treacherous conditions when Robert Kubica knocks him into a spin, but he survives and, when Alonso crashes out on lap 41, he takes the win.

Hamilton has a 12-point lead going into the Chinese Grand Prix but, with the title within his grasp, he slides off the track on his way into the pit lane to change his tyres.

Raikkonen wins from Alonso to set up a three-way title showdown at the season finale in Brazil.