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F1: Thrilling Finish Crowns Hamilton Champion at Interlagos
Written by: RACER & autosport.com
RACER Magazine   http://www.racer.com/speedtv
11/02/2008
Sao Paulo, Brazil
 
Hamilton celebrates a title that very nearly wasn't. (LAT Photo) » More Photos

The 2008 Formula 1 championship was decided on the very last corner of the very last race, as Lewis Hamilton moved past Timo Glock on the final turn at Interlagos to jump to fifth and earn his maiden title by one point over Brazilian Grand Prix winner Felipe Massa, becoming the youngest F1 champion ever.

It was one of the most unpredictable finishes in the sport’s history, since for most of the final lap it was Massa who was clinching the crown following Sebastian Vettel’s pass on Hamilton three laps from the end when the rain returned in Sao Paulo.

Glock’s Toyota had stayed on slicks, and the German just couldn’t hold off Vettel and Hamilton on the last corner. Renault’s Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari completed the podium.

The start was delayed by ten minutes after a brief downpour hit Interlagos just before the mechanics were due to clear the grid. Although the sunshine returned within a few minutes, the first half of the track was left very wet, so the whole field took
the start on intermediates.
Massa kept the lead at the start, which was delayed by 10 minutes by a sudden rain. (LAT Photo) » More Photos

The top four got away cleanly, but there was chaos further back when Nico Rosberg tapped David Coulthard into a spin, with the Red Bull swiping Rosberg's Williams teammate Kazuki Nakajima, bringing Coulthard's final F1 race to an early end. Renault's Nelson Piquet also exited his home race in a separate first lap incident.

The safety car then came out for three laps while Coulthard's car was retrieved, after which Massa edged away at the front as Raikkonen put pressure on front row starter Jarno Trulli (Toyota) for second and Hamilton ran a safe fourth. His teammate Heikki Kovalainen lost out to both Vettel and Alonso as he tried to protect Hamilton on the first lap, and although he dived back past Alonso at the restart, the McLaren ran wide and lost the place again.

The track rapidly dried out, and by lap 11 everyone was back on slick tires. But Hamilton was, along with Raikkonen and Trulli, the last to pit - and his caution proved costly, as he rejoined back in seventh place.


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