Nov 2, 2008, 18:42 GMT
Hamburg - Lewis Hamilton of McLaren-Mercedes went into the Brazilian Grand Prix, the final race of the 2008 Formula One season, holding a seven-point lead over Ferrari's Felipe Massa.
Brazilian Formula One driver Felipe Massa (2nd left) of Ferrari leads the pack at the start of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil on the race track in Interlagos near Sao Paulo in Brazil, 02 November 2008. EPA/KERIM OKTEN
Although Massa claimed victory at Interlagos, Hamilton secured the fifth-place finish he needed to secure the world title by a single point. Hamilton finishes with 98 points, one clear of Massa, whose Ferrari team has the consolation of taking the constructors' title ahead of McLaren
The following is a race-by-race comparison between the two leading drivers for the title.
1st race - Australian GP: Hamilton wins a crash-marred opening race in Melbourne in which just seven of the 22 cars finished. Massa pulls out on the 30th lap after a collision.
2nd race - Malaysian GP: Defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen takes the chequered flag in Sepang but Ferrari teammate Massa spins out. Hamilton has to be satisfied with fifth after a problematic first pit stop but still leads the standings by three points from Raikkonen.
3rd race - Bahrain GP: Massa leads home a Ferrari one-two in Sakhir to finally get off the mark while Hamilton finishes out of the points after a disastrous start and driving into former world champion Fernando Alonso. Raikkonen's second place finish sees the Finn lead the drivers' standings with 19 points.
4th race - Spanish GP: Raikkonen claims victory in Barcelona from Massa and Hamilton in a race that sees two safety car phases, as well as several crashes. The start-to-finish victory sees Raikkonen extend his lead over Hamilton in the drivers' standings to nine points.
5th race - Turkish GP: Massa secures a hat-trick of victories in Istanbul, winning from pole to beat Hamilton into second place. Raikkonen's third place sees him continue to hold the lead in the drivers' standings with 35 points from Hamilton and Massa, who both have 28.
6th race - Monaco GP: Hamilton wins an incident-packed race in Monaco in difficult conditions to take the overall lead in the drivers' championship. Massa takes third behind Poland's Robert Kubica in a BMW-Sauber. Hamilton now has 38 points, followed by Raikkonen on 35 and Massa on 34.
7th race - Canadian GP: Kubica celebrates the first F1 victory of his career in Montreal after Hamilton and Raikkonen are forced to retire over a bizarre pit lane crash. Kubica also claims the world championship lead with 42 points to move four points ahead of Hamilton and Massa, who came home fifth.
8th race - French GP: Massa leads home a Ferrari one-two in Magny- Cours to take the world championship lead as Hamilton finishes outside the points in 10th place. Massa now has 48 points, followed by fifth-placed Kubica on 46. Raikkonen moves on to 43 points with Hamilton on 38.
9th race - British GP: Hamilton triumphs in his home race at Silverstone while Raikkonen has to make do with fourth. Massa finishes 13th and out of the points after spinning a total of six times. The result leaves Massa, Raikkonen and Hamilton equal on 48 points.
10th race - German GP: Hamilton wins at Hockenheim with Massa third. The victory sees the Briton take the championship lead with 58 points, four ahead of Massa.
11th race - Hungarian GP: McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen clinches his maiden F1 race win after Massa suffers engine damage with three laps remaining as he appeared to be heading to a comfortable victory. Hamilton recovers from a puncture to rescue fifth place and open an eight point gap on Massa.
12th race - European GP: Massa wins on the streets of Valencia from Hamilton, whose championship lead is cut to six points.
13th race - Belgian GP: Hamilton grabs a dramatic victory at Spa- Francorchamps but is later demoted to third after incurring a 25- second penalty for cutting a chicane, handing the win to Massa. Hamilton now leads Massa by just two points in the standings.
14th race - Italian GP: German Sebastian Vettel in a Toro Roso takes victory in Monza to become the youngest ever winner of an F1 race. Hamilton finishes seventh and retains the lead with 78 points, one clear of Massa, who finishes sixth.
15th race - Singapore GP: Massa starts from pole position and leads comfortably in the early stages but all hope of victory ends when he drives off with the fuel hose still attached at his first pit stop. Hamilton finishes third behind winner Alonso to extend his lead over Massa to seven points.
16th race - Japanese GP: Alonso wins while Hamilton finishes out of the points after incurring a drive-through penalty and also spinning following a clash with Massa. The Brazilian receives a drive-through penalty of his own but still manages to finish in seventh place to cut the deficit to the McLaren driver by two points to five.
17th race - Chinese GP: Hamilton enjoys a start-to-finish victory in Shanghai with Massa second. The win sees Hamilton increase his lead at the top of the drivers' standings to seven points.
18th race - Brazilian GP: Massa claims victory in an action-packed race but Hamilton gets the fifth-place finish he needs to be crowned the youngest ever F1 champion at the age of 23.
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