Background: 2007 Formula One Grand Prix season

Oct 22, 2007, 7:56 GMT

Sao Paulo - Although Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen went into the final race of the 2007 Formula One season still harbouring title aspirations, throughout much of the year it seemed the battle for the drivers' title was going to be between McLaren-Mercedes team-mates Lewis Hamilton and defending champion Fernando Alonso.

The following is a race-by-race comparison between the three leading drivers.

1st race in Australia: Ferrari newcomer Raikkonen wins the season-opening race after leading from start to finish. Alonso finishes second followed by Hamilton, who claims a podium finish on his F1 debut. Raikkonen heads the standings with 10 points followed by Alonso on eight with Hamilton a further two points adrift.

2nd race in Malaysia: Alonso leads home a McLaren 1-2 in Sepang ahead of Hamilton. Alonso leads Hamilton 18-14 with Raikkonen sandwiched between the pair on 16 points.

3rd race in Bahrain: Ferrari's Felipe Massa claims victory from pole position. Hamilton comes in second to become the first F1 driver to climb the podium in his first three career races. Raikkonen takes third with Alonso fourth to leave Hamilton, Alonso and the Finn tied at the top of the drivers' standings on 22 points.

4th race in Spain: In Barcelona, Massa wins his second race in succession from the pole position in a Ferrari, followed by Hamilton and Alonso. Raikkonen fails to finish. Hamilton leads Alonso 30-28 with the Finn on 22.

5th race in Monte Carlo: Alonso leads home a McLaren 1-2 at the Monaco Grand Prix to draw level with Hamilton on 38 points. Raikkonen drops 15 points behind the leading duo after finishing down in eighth place.

6th race in Montreal: Hamilton claims his first F1 race victory in a chaotic Canadian Grand Prix overshadowed by a horrific crash involving Robert Kubica. Alonso can only manage seventh leaving Hamilton leading 48-40. Raikkonen finishes fifth to move on to 27 points.

7th race in Indianapolis: Hamilton wins the US Grand Prix, beating Alonso into second place with Raikkonen fourth. The victory sees Hamilton extend his lead in the drivers' standing to 10 points. He has 58 points, while Alonso has 48 and Raikkonen 32.

8th race at Magny-Cours: Raikkonen wins the French GP ahead of Massa with Hamilton third and Alonso seventh. The Briton leads Alonso 64-50. Raikkonen now has 42 points.

9th race in Silverstone: Raikkonen scores back to back victories by winning the British Grand Prix. Alonso comes in second with Hamilton third. Hamilton retains the lead in the drivers' standings with 70 points from Alonso, who has 58. Raikkonen moves into third with 52 points.

10th race at the Nuerburgring: Alonso overcomes rain shower at the start and more rain near the end of the European GP to register his third win of the season. Raikkonen was forced to retire while Hamilton finished out of the points in ninth spot after having to be lifted out of a gravel pit early on in the race. Hamilton retains the lead in the drivers' standings with 70 points but is now only two points clear of Alonso.

11th race in Budapest: Hamilton wins the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole, beating Raikkonen into second place. Alonso finishes fourth following a five-place penalty for an infringement. Hamilton leads Alonso 80-73 with Raikkonen third on 60.

12th race in Istanbul: Massa claims victory in Turkish Grand Prix from pole position, beating Raikkonen into second place. Alonso comes in third with Hamilton fifth after suffering a puncture. Raikkonen now has 68 points but Hamilton leads on 84 followed by Alonso on 79.

13th race in Monza: Alonso wins the Italian Grand Prix in Monza from pole with Hamilton second and Raikkonen third. Hamilton leads with 92, followed by Alonso on 89 and Raikkonen on 74.

14th race in Spa-Francorchamps: Raikkonen leads from pole to beat Massa as Ferrari dominate the Belgian GP. Alonso finishes third ahead of Hamilton, who now has 97 points with Alonso on 95 and Raikkonen on 84.

15th race in Fuji: Hamilton wins a rain-marred Japanese GP as Alonso crashes out and Raikkonen takes third. Hamilton leads on 107 points, followed by Alonso on 95 and Raikkonen on 90.

16th race in Shanghai: Hamilton fails to finish and Raikkonen claims his fifth victory of the season to take full advantage. Alonso comes in second. Hamilton leads on 107, followed by Alonso on 103 and Raikkonen on 100.

17th race at Interlagos: Raikkonen crowned world champion by a single point after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix. Alonso can only manage third while Hamilton comes in seventh after suffering gearbox problems. Raikkonen wins the title on 110 points, followed by Hamilton and Alonso, both on 109.