Alonso produced the sort of performance a Champion does, racing an incredibly controlled consistent race to take a well-deserved victory, something that could not be said for title challengers Hamilton and Massa.
From First to Last
After a poor start, drive through penalty and a collision with Massa, Hamilton found himself at the back of the grid, a position he could not improve on as the race progressed, his car damaged during the collision with Massa.
Massa himself, received a penalty for his barge on Hamilton, but managed battle to a eight place finish only to be handed another point by the stewards as Sebastian Bourdais received a twenty five second penalty for his collision with Massa after the race.
Hamilton's lead now stands at five points and with Robert Kubica now only twelve points behind himself, it looks like a three horse race going into the final two races of the season.
Hamilton said to the BBC after the race "It's damage limitation. Forget this race ever happened and move on.
"You can wish you did something differently but I made a mistake and I paid for it."
Mistakes of a Champion?
Champion elect Lewis Hamilton started on pole and was in prime position to increase his lead on title rival Massa who started four places behind, but his calmness evaded him going into the first corner.
Once the lights went out Kimi Raikkonen roared ahead, rattling the Englishmen and prompting the sort of manoeuvre Hamilton has been continuously telling us he has grown out of.
He had said before the race that we was better prepared for this years title challenge due to the mistakes of last year, he was calmer and would race a conservative race to gain as many points as he could but not ant any unnecessary risks.
However at mount Fuji he acted as if he needed to win the race on the first lap, darting down the inside of Raikkonen at turn one, lighting up and badly flat spotting his front tyres, even though he did not need to race Raikkonen.
Raikkonen is out of the running for the title this season after an extremely lacklustre defence of his championship, Hamilton did not need to finish ahead of him, second would have been an excellent result for his championship.
Hamilton born racer, Alonso born champion?
But many say this is the driver Hamilton is. He is a win at all costs driver who wants to win every race.
Maybe this is due to inexperience, it is only his second season in the sport, but the fact is Alonso out shone his previous teammate at Japan, his controlled consistent race a joy to behold.
Alonso remains undecided on his future, but with this second win a row for Renault and a much improved package, he will now surely remain as Renault's number one driver.
Hamilton on the other hand still remains insistent that it is his championship this season, maybe if he does win, it will take that first championship weight off his shoulders and we will see a multiple world champion, in a Senna mould, appear.
