Fuji switch to favour Hamilton at Japan GP

He who learns quickest will laugh longest this weekend as the most exciting Drivers' title run-in in years takes an unfamiliar turn at Fuji, which hosts Formula One racing for the first time in 30 years. Championship Leader Lewis Hamilton has publicly expressed his disappointment at the switch from Suzuka to the circuit lying at the foothills of Mount Fuji, but the move could work in the Englishman's favour as the greater experience of Kimi Raikkonen and closest challenger Fernando Alonso will count for nothing on a circuit that was last included in the Grand Prix calendar in 1977. The general consensus is that the circuit, which boasts a massive home straight will benefit the MacLaren car, although with two thirds of the circuit involving slower, tricky corners, it is difficult to predict whether or not Ferrari can continue their recent revival. It is a big race for Hamilton, who has had to contend with the outside pressures of the Spygate scandal and the spat with team-mate Alonso, who is now just two points adrift of the 22-year-old and rated a 2/1 shot, like Raikkonen, to win the race. However, as his meteoric rise this term has shown, Hamilton is a quick learner and although his performances have been overshadowed by the Spaniard and the Flying Finn in recent races the unknown Fuji circuit will work in his favour. Couple that with the fact that Hamilton believes a set-up problem, which he has now corrected, is the reason Alonso has been outperforming him recently and the 4/1 about the rookie from Hertfordshire looks the value bet here. William Hill offer 100/1 that Hamilton wins the final three Grand Prix of the season but are odds on at 1/2 that he fails to win any further races. Hamilton is the 11/8 second favourite to win the Drivers' Championship, behind Alonso at 4/5. Verdict: 2pts Hamilton @ 4/1 (SportingBet) (Editor's Note: Can Hamilton increase the gap between him and the rest or will the double world champion Alonso show his experience? Follow all the prices with SportingBet!)