Hamilton takes a step closer to championship glory with the “best pole of his life” in Japan.

Lewis Hamilton dug deep in Fuji to plant his McLaren-Mercedes on pole for Sunday’s decisive Japanese Grand Prix, while the best his main championship rival Felipe Massa could muster was fifth.

Lewis Hamilton’s campaign to become the first British world champion in over a decade got off to a solid start in Fuji after the McLaren driver showed strong underlying pace during practice ahead of Sunday’s decisive Japanese Grand Prix.

Bernie Ecclestone is reported to be working on a plan which will see Formula One engines standardized.

According to British newspaper The Times, Ecclestone and Mosley are planning to impose regulations which would mean an engine must last for half of the season, potentially greatly reducing the costs associated with running an F1 car.

The Canadian Grand Prix will not feature on the 2009 Formula 1 calendar, meaning North America will not be hosting any F1 races next season. It will be the first time since 1987 that Montreal will not be hosting a grand prix.

The 2009 calendar is currently:

How collaboration between F1’s biggest rivals, faith in the wind tunnel, and a little bit of engineering nouse, saved the pinnacle of motorsport from this…

The mountain calls. Following the night race in Singapore Formula One now heads for the Japanese Alps to race at the foot of the sacred volcano of Mount Fuji.

McLaren have vowed to adopt a more disciplined approach in the decisive remaining races in the world championship as memories of last year’s title meltdown are invoked.

Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima will remain at Williams for next year, the Grove-based outfit has confirmed.

Rosberg extended his contract with the team at the end of last year, but the announcement reaffirms Williams’ belief in the German’s ability to lead the team into what will be a new era of Formula One in the context of sweeping technical changes.

Ferrari’s pit lane debacle in Singapore provided rivals McLaren with the ideal ammunition on which to trumpet their new status as championship leaders – and Lewis Hamilton’s PR were quick to flag up his team’s flawlessness under the Marina Bay lights.

Double world champion gives Singapore’s Marina Bay a christening to remember after winning dramatic inaugural night race;

Ferrari incompetence in the pits puts Hamilton in pole position for the title.

He said he needed a miracle. And on lap 15 it came, his team-mate ironically the bearer.