Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton outgunned his title rivals to stand just 90 minutes from title glory last night - and ran into TWO amazing rows.
After qualifying second, he was slammed for unsportsmanlike behaviour before the biggest race of his life.
And then he hit back at the head of the Spanish motorsport federation over allegations that Britain was racist.
After such a remarkable season, few doubted there would not be a few twists.
He out-paced both title rivals to start on the front row - with Felipe Massa on pole. His biggest rival, bitter teammate Fernando Alonso, will start the race staring up his exhaust pipe in fourth.
The other man in the threeway thriller, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, is third on the grid.
But Hamilton's joy was short-lived. He faced claims he had come out of the pits and intentionally blocked the Finn at the start of his fastest lap.
"The team told me Kimi was close but my mirrors were shaking so much I couldn't see him," said Hamilton.
"I didn't do anything intentionally. Why would I? Fernando is the one I am fighting and it's good to be ahead of him.
"I have apologised to Kimi. Everyone makes mistakes.
"When I saw him, I braked. If I had tried to take the corner I would have screwed his lap completely."
Raikkonen said: "He could have given me more room for sure but I don't know how much time it cost me."
Then when a journalist asked Hamilton: "So you think you can do anything and then just apologise and it's ok? You didn't give him a sign of what you were doing. Do you think that was sportsmanlike?"
Hamilton hit back: "What do you want me to do? Put on an indicator?" And he added: "I'm just here to do a good, clean job. I don't want any controversy."
When told of the comments by head of the Spanish federation, Carlos Gracia, claiming England was a racist country now supporting a black driver, he hit back: "I am surprised.
"People have a right to their own opinion and we have to rise above it.
"I want to be a role model for everyone, not only for black people. I hope what I do opens doors to all cultures and all types of ethnic groups."
Team boss Ron Dennis lauded his protege's performance.
"It's good, it's almost all in his hands now," he said.
THE GRID
Leading positions after qualifying:
1 F. Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1m 11.931s
2 L. Hamilton (Gbr) McLaren 1:12.082
3 K. Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:12.322
4 F. Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:12.356
5 M. Webber (Aus) Red Bull 1:12.928
6 N. Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber1:13.081
7 R. Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber1:13.129
8 J. Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:13.195
9 D. Coulthard (Gbr) Red Bull 1:13.272
10 N. Rosberg (Ger) Williams 1:13.477
11 R. Barrichello (Bra) Honda 1:12.932
12 G. Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:12.968
13 S. Vettel (Ger) Scuderia 1:13.058
14 V. Liuzzi (Ita) Scuderia 1:13.251
15 R. Schumacher(Ger) Toyota 1:13.315
16 J. Button (Gbr) Honda 1:13.469
17 H. Kovalainen (Fin) Renault 1:14.078
18 T. Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri 1:14.098
19 K. Nakajima (Jpn) Williams 1:14.417
20 A. Davidson (Gbr) Super Aguri 1:14.596
21 A. Sutil (Ger) Spyker 1:15.217
22 S. Yamamoto (Jpn) Spyker 1:15.487
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Jonathan Pearce
ALEC STEWART
THE MOLE