Rust in Piece....

SO,

Following Alonso's spectacular turn five cock up at a sodden Fuji Speedway, the odds of him clinching his third title seem slim at best, and I for one am frankly ecstatic.

At the point at which his McLaren - easily the best car on the grid at the Japanese GP's new home - aquaplaned its way into the wall, I leaped into the air in the knowledge that some justice had been done.

Fernando's blatant attempts to blackmail Ron Dennis by threatening to run to the FIA with some new information in the 'Stepneygate' farce if he wasn't granted number one status in the team proved the selfishness and ruthlessness of the man.

And seeing the remains of the reigning champions car (the number 1 most likely adorning it for just two more races) sat idle in the pouring rain just off the racing line while his sensational team mate sauntered calmly past, was a sweet moment.

It astonished me that, following Team McLaren Mercedes' unceremonious booting out of the 2007 Constructor's Championship and ludicrous $100million fine dished out on September 13, Dennis could even look Alonso in the face, let alone insist the team intend to keep treating it's drivers equally.

After the hearing, Dennis told Autosport's Steve Cooper: "We have multi-year contracts with both of our drivers, and there has been no discussion about varying them.

"We have two of the best drivers in the world, and our commitment to winning races is undiminished. That's what we exist to do - to win races.

"And if there is any variation to those contracts, it will be by mutual agreements."

But this alludes little to the general feeling at the factory, as surely everyone in the team would find it difficult to support Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, with the golden child still leading the title race, ahead of his teammate who has shown a potentially traitorous attitude.

And this is where the Fuji results fits in.

Surely now, with Lewis 12 points clear of Fernando, the Woking team have the perfect excuse to favour its most likely championship contender and, after Alonso's repeated mantra of deserving to be the teams established number one, do the unthinkable.

Ask Fernando to move over...