In a dramatic Brazilian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton has finally achieved his dream of winning the Formula One World Championship with a tense and exciting final few laps at Sao Paulo. Title rival Felipe Massa did the best he could by leading from start to finish in a rain-affected Brazilian Grand Prix, but race victory was still not enough as Hamilton was able to come home in fifth position… just!
By winning the title, Lewis Hamilton becomes the youngest world champion in the history of Formula One motor racing. He also joins the list of great British drivers who have won the world championship including Mike Hawthorn, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill.
It was McLaren’s first drivers’ title since Mika Hakkinen back in 1999 and the first for a British driver since Hill back in 1996.
But in the final two laps to the chequered flag, with steady rain falling down, it could have gone wrong for Hamilton as he lost a vital track position when Sebastian Vettel passed him.
At that point, the championship was heading towards Felipe Massa, and when the Ferrari took the chequered flag, everyone believed he did the impossible by winning the drivers’ title in style. But on the final lap as Lewis was desperately trying to pass the Toro Rosso of Vettel, Toyota’s Timo Glock – who was ahead and still running on dry Bridgestone on a slippery surface – was unable to stay on track and dropped down from fourth to sixth, handing the title to Hamilton.
Ferrari still clinched the constructors’ title, with Massa winning the Brazilian Grand Prix and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen in third. Renault’s Fernando Alonso drove a solid race challenging the Ferraris and ended the season with a superb second position.
The start was delayed by ten minutes after a brief, but heavy, downpour hitting the Interlagos track just before the mechanics were due to clear the grid. Although the sunshine returned within a few minutes, parts of the race track were damp. And deciding not to take risks, the twenty-car field opted to start the race on intermediates.
As the five red lights went out, Massa headed into the Senna S still in the lead followed by Jarno Trulli, Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton. Behind there was chaos as Nico Rosberg tapped David Coulthard into a spin, with the Red Bull Racing swiping Rosberg’s Williams team-mate Kazuki Nakajima. Coulthard was out on the spot and it was a sad and early end to his Formula One career.
Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr was also forced to retire in his home event in a separate first lap incident.
The Safety Car made its appearance and stayed out for three laps while Coulthard’s car was retrieved from a dangerous position. When the field got going again, Massa edged away at the front as team-mate Raikkonen began to apply pressure on Toyota’s Trulli for second, with Hamilton running in a safe fourth.
His McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen lost out to both Vettel and Alonso in the opening lap as the Finn tried to protect Hamilton. Heikki did get past Fernando at the restart, only for the McLaren to run wide and losing the position again to the Renault.
As the track began to dry out, some teams opted to gamble by running slick tyres. This worked beautifully for Giancarlo Fisichella as the Force India team pitted the Italian at the right moment thereby gaining track position. By the time the rest of the field made its switch to dry Bridgestones, Fisichella was up to fifth, in between Raikkonen and Trulli.
Vettel and Alonso also benefitted in pitting early and the pair was promoted up the order in second and third respectively. Race leader Massa waited until the next stop while Hamilton stayed out one lap too long. Lewis’ caution proved costly, as he rejoined down in seventh place…
Hamilton soon passed sixth-placed driver Trulli, when the Toyota slid wide into the Senna S, but it was not until lap 17 that he was back in the all-important top five race positions when he passes Fisichella at the same corner.
The McLaren driver then gained an extra place when Vettel made an early second pit stop on lap 27. Although the Toro Rosso was temporary in second when the other cars made their final pit stops, Vettel’s final third visit to the pits for new tyres and fuel dropped him back to fifth behind Hamilton.
Meanwhile at the front, Massa was comfortably pulling away from Alonso and heading for the race victory. Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was slowly closing in on Alonso, while Hamilton was still driving cautiously in fourth.
But then the rain showers returned with only seven laps to the finish! Not taking any risks except for Toyota, everyone pitted for intermediates.
By staying out on a wet track with slick tyres, Timo Glock moved into fourth, ahead of Hamilton and Vettel.
It looked like title was still heading to Hamilton’s way until he ran wide at the final corner when BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica decided to un-lap himself! That also let Vettel through and suddenly it appeared that the title had slipped from Hamilton once again.
But within sight of the chequered flag, Hamilton’s luck changed as Glock was losing grip (as much as 17 seconds on the final lap alone!) and it allowed the McLaren to sweep past and back into fifth position. By that time, the Ferrari team was celebrating Felipe Massa’s championship success, but the mood quickly changed as it became clear that it was Lewis Hamilton who won the title.
Poor Massa. The young Brazilian believed he did the job with pole position and race victory. But to lose out by a single point, that is deeply distressing… Though Felipe should be proud of his achievements this season and he did put in a strong performance in the final race.
Heikki Kovalainen finished seventh for McLaren while Jarno Trulli finished in the last point-scoring position with eighth for Toyota, ahead of Mark Webber’s Red Bull Racing and the BMW Sauber of Nick Heidfeld.
So congratulations to Lewis Hamilton for winning the 2008 Formula One World Championship. The 23-year-old Briton had been dreaming this day would come since he drove for the Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes team back last year. Back in 2007, he missed out on the chance to become world champion when he was feeling the pressure from then team-mate Alonso and eventual winner Raikkonen. Fast-forward twelve months on, Lewis has finally accomplished his objective but he must be feeling pretty anxious in those final two laps in Brazil!
Hard luck Felipe Massa, but he will come back stronger and more determined than before in 2009. The Brazilian may not have won the world title, but by finishing first with team-mate Raikkonen third, the Scuderia Ferrari team have achieved their 16th constructors’ title.
And so ends a dramatic and controversial season of Formula One racing. We have seen new winners, classic races and exciting moments in this sport and thanks to the talent of Lewis Carl Hamilton – we have a British world champion.
Race results from the Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo:
1. Massa Ferrari 1h34:11:435
2. Alonso Renault +13.298
3. Raikkonen Ferrari +16.235
4. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari +38.011
5. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes +38.907
6. Glock Toyota +44.368
7. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes +55.074
8. Trulli Toyota +1:08.433
9. Webber Red Bull-Renault +1:19.666
10. Heidfeld BMW Sauber +1 lap
11. Kubica BMW Sauber +1 lap
12. Rosberg Williams-Toyota +1 lap
13. Button Honda +1 lap
14. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari +1 lap
15. Barrichello Honda +1 lap
16. Sutil Force India-Ferrari +2 laps
17. Nakajima Williams-Toyota +2 laps
18. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari +2 laps
Fastest lap: Massa, 1:13.376
Not classified/retirements:
Piquet Renault 1 lap
Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1 lap
World Championship standings, round 18:
Drivers:
1. Hamilton 98
2. Massa 97
3. Raikkonen 75
4. Kubica 75
5. Alonso 61
6. Heidfeld 60
7. Kovalainen 53
8. Vettel 35
9. Trulli 31
10. Glock 25
11. Webber 21
12. Piquet 19
13. Rosberg 17
14. Barrichello 11
15. Nakajima 9
16. Coulthard 8
17. Bourdais 4
18. Button 3
Constructors:
1. Ferrari 172
2. McLaren-Mercedes 151
3. BMW Sauber 135
4. Renault 80
5. Toyota 56
6. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 39
7. Red Bull-Renault 29
8. Williams-Toyota 26
9. Honda 14
Well that was some race. Absolutely loved it, and no matter who you wanted to win, you have to admit, that was some finish. Never has there been a closer finish by racing distance, and as always, there is always something to show why I keep watching F1 despite the the farce that it can sometimes be. And wow what a reason, what a reason to enjoy next year with some ace improvements eg kenetic energy, slick slick tyres, and what a reason for the Beeb to make a decent go at F1 again.
Actually felt sorry for the F1 team today, and no doubt be some sad words said in the highlights. They have really pushed F1 to our screens, and despite some odd features and presenters, they have shown the Beeb, that they must carry the torch and keep it burning. I have to say I’m not sure the BBC will do as good as a job straight away. But I live in hope, and just hope they bring back the Fleetwood Mac song as the title music. F1 WAS that song or maybe that song WAS F1, and have missed it ever since it got ripped out.
As always, rain always make for a good race, so it was very exciting to see it poor down at the start. But it was not what Lewis wanted. All he needed was a nice boring race, and things would be all good for him. But it was not to be, and so one of the best final races I’ve seen happened before my eyes. But such a shame for DC to be taken out so early. As a retiring driver, the only thing you want is to finish your last race, but that was cruelly taken away from him. my heart goes out to him, and I cant think what must have been going through his mind when it happened.
But ( and I’m slightly sorry to say this, but hey it was my first reaction so… ) I did snigger at the Ferrari team celebrating too early. Whey hey woot woot!!!……DOH! But then I did feel gutted for them. Who wouldn’t have jumped the gun in that situation? I know I would have dome the same, so do feel sorry for them, and Massa, who must have also been told the good news. Then to get a radio message that ” sorry your not the champion ” must have been horrible. But he will have his chance again, and sure he will be champion also at some point. I do feel though that Lewis’ drive at Silverstone was deserving of that title it was so good. Massa made too many silly mistakes at the early stages of the season, so think just about deserved it and with all the penalties showed how good he is.
But even if you hate the end result……Yink 😉 anyone has to admit, that last race again put F1 at the top where it deserves to be. And next year will be the last it will ever have chance to be that good again. STD engines will kill F1 stone dead, so make the most of it guys
why do I get the feeling that Glock slowed on purpose? But in that kind of situation how can you even begin to set the situation right as you can’t penalise Hamilton and penalising Glock doesn’t accomplish anything, I suppose you could reward Glock with 20 seconds off his time but I’m not sure that would go down well.
Well, I can complain all I want but it still won’t change the fact that the odious tw*t won. I do think that Massa would have been a more deserving champion, more wins and isn’t an hubris pr***.
You think Lewis is so well loved within every team ( yeah right ), that a driver who has expressed a slight disliking to Hamilton, would slow by over 17 seconds just to let him win!?
When watching I did think that, but then realised that Glock was on slicks, so it makes perfect sense to loose time. The track gets wet in different places so that also answers Glocks quick times for part the that final lap. If you want to be pedantic why not penalise Kubica I think it was for trying to unlap himself which gave Vettel the chance to overtake Hamilton.
There is no way in the world that Glock deserves a penalty, so stop complaining. Yeah so someone you don’t like won the WDC, big deal. Millions had to do the same for 7 years while Shuey was in control, and he was more of a hubris odious pr***. Remember him “accidentally” hitting Damon Hill, to take the championship? Yeah, what a gentleman.
Kubica could have won WDC, if the last two or three races went another way for him, but no way did he deserve the title over Massa or Lewis. I don’t like him one bit, but if he’d won then I would have been the one to suck it up, so it’s part of competition and it’s just the way it goes I guess
Anyways, no matter. It was great TV and in the end gave F1 a good name again ( because there really nothing to complain about ), and that’s what’s important.
Just prey the next 145 days fly by, and welcome in, what should be a blindingly good season.
Just Wow! What an amazing finish and a deserving champion. (Even though both deserved it) You have to feel for Massa though as he thought he had it! Glock was on slicks and I’m already tired of this “he let him past” speak. Lewis is a worthy champion end of.
Thanks for the comments guys. I must admit those final laps was so nerve-wracking that I had to walk away from the room! I couldn’t cope with the high tension and neither did Lewis Hamilton, who said he was about to explode!!! To say that Timo Glock ‘gifted’ the position to Lewis on the last lap at the final corner, should discount all the conspiracy theories as the Toyota driver was simply struggling for grip on a slippery wet surface. The German even admitted he was unaware of the championship situation and was just racing for a top four finish.
Read this article for more details: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71968
For Hamilton, that maiden title was a dream come true and in this interview with Autosport.com, the newly crowned British champion admits that becoming number one is the “coolest thing ever”.
See the link here: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71988
I do feel really sorry for Felipe Massa. He drove the perfect race. Didn’t put a wheel wrong and coped with the enormous pressure from his home fans. To lose the title by a single point is heartbreaking. Though it was a nice gesture (and sporting) from the Brazilian to say he was proud of his achievements and his battle with Lewis.
Already looking forward to next year, with a return to slick tyres, reduced downforce (meaning cars will be able to overtake) and a new BBC coverage that will promote the sport with the use of digital TV.
What a race, I hate to admit but when Vettel over took Hamilton, I was like yes! lol then watching as he struggled to catch up, was a crazy finish in the end.
Hamiltion should have sewn the championship up a long time ago, he was lucky to have won it. I’m really looking forward to next season there seems to be more promise. And lots of drivers have questions to answer.
I did feel for Massa though he has done very well and produced at the end, it was just one point shy of the world title.
Those final laps will live long in the memory ………. . I haven’t witnessed a championship decider with so many surprising twists since Australia ’86!
Hats off to Massa for not only his performance for the weekend (clean sweep of pole/fastest lap/race win) under pressure but even more so for the dignity in the aftermath . From ecstasy to despair in 40 seconds must hit you worse than the despair alone……..
The FIA must feel very smug now 🙂 . That extra point they conjured up for Massa in Japan must now proved to be worth all the (deserved) flak they received from everyone!
Ha well said Wai. So Japan really was THAT important then!
I think this report sums up that day very nicely, with some touching moments reported of Massa and his wife.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72001