‘It’ll be a clean race’

Hamilton leads Ferrari’s Brazilian Felipe Massa by seven points, meaning that the Briton need only finish fifth to take the title even if his Brazilian rival wins the race.

Wild start

The two collided in Japan this month, with Hamilton failing to score points after being penalised for a wild start and then having to fight back from last position following the Massa incident.

Massa denied deliberately colliding with his rival and said at Fuji: “I have a good relationship with Lewis and would not do anything to destroy someone on purpose.”

However, Formula One has been plunged into controversy in title-deciding races in the past, notably between Michael Schumacher and Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in 1997 and Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in 1989 and 1990.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, whose Honda team have been so far off the pace this season that he is unlikely to be in any position to assist his compatriot, predicted a straight fight and urged local fans to show their sense of fair play.

“I don’t think I can help him (Massa) much, unfortunately,” said the former Ferrari driver. “I would be willing to get some help from him. All I would ask of the guys who come here to cheer Felipe on is to respect Lewis.

“Imagine me doing something against Lewis — would Felipe be happy with that? Would he be a worthy champion? I don’t think so,” added Barrichello.

Alonso sets the pace

Renault’s Fernando Alonso set the pace in Brazilian Grand Prix practice Friday while home hero Felipe Massa lapped comfortably quicker than title favourite Lewis Hamilton.

Alonso set a best time of one minute 12.296 seconds on a damp and blustery afternoon. Ferrari’s Massa was fastest in the morning in 1:12.305 and led the timesheets after lunch until Alonso put in a late quick lap.

Hamilton was second in the morning and ninth in the afternoon after repeatedly locking his brakes on the wet track.

Ferrari’s outgoing champion Kimi Raikkonen was third and fourth respectively.