Lewis Hamilton is one victory away from motor racing immortality after producing an immaculate display in appalling conditions to win the Japanese Grand Prix yesterday as Fernando Alonso, his bitter rival and nearest challenger, crashed out.

Hamilton flies to Shanghai this morning knowing that winning next weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, the penultimate race of his first season in Formula One, will make him the first rookie champion and the youngest in the sport’s history.

Only seven months ago, when the 22-year-old from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, began his career with a podium place at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, taking the title seemed an impossible dream, but Hamilton has shown ability and maturity beyond even his imaginings and these qualities were the hallmarks of an outstanding performance in Fuji’s rain and fog as he drove to his fourth - and best – win of the campaign.

The McLaren Mercedes driver survived two spells behind the safety car and a spin when he was hit by Robert Kubica’s BMW Sauber to take the chequered flag ahead of Heikki Kovalainen, a fellow rookie, in a Renault, with Kimi Raikkonen, of Ferrari, third.

While Hamilton produced the goods from pole position, the race turned into a nightmare for Alonso, his team-mate and more experienced championship rival, who started in second place but destroyed his car on lap 42 after aquaplaning into a wall.

The result leaves Alonso, who went into the race two points behind Hamilton and with all the momentum after getting the better of the Briton for three races in a row, 12 points adrift. The Spaniard admitted he “needs a miracle” in China – and then in the final race, in Brazil – if he is to fulfil his dream of a third consecutive driver’s title.

Hamilton, however, could savour an excellent weekend’s work at the track where James Hunt won his World Championship 31 years ago in similar conditions. “It was the longest race of my life, it seemed to go on and on and on,” Hamilton said. “I am thrilled to take it and it’s great for the team.”

The Briton also talked of the inspiration of greats such as Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, multiple world champions and members of an exalted class whom many judges believe Hamilton will join. “Obviously, driving in the wet and leading, and doing the last lap and thinking of the races Senna and Prost were in, makes me feel I am on my way to achieving something similar to them,” Hamilton said.

Although he had nervy moments, Hamilton loved the challenge of conditions that resulted in seven rivals failing to finish. “Even aquaplaning you are still in control,” he said. “I was almost rallying it down the straight, it was just cool and good fun.

“I couldn’t imagine having four wins in my first year,” Hamilton, who has 12 podium finishes in 15 races, added. “After the first pole and after the first win, I was, like, ‘get out of here’. But now it’s just way, way, way beyond anything I imagined.”

One step from glory

1 Lewis Hamilton (GB) 107pts 2 Fernando Alonso (Sp) 95 3 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) 90

Next race Shanghai, China Sunday, ITV 1, 7am