Hamilton wins Formula One crown

Eurosport - Mon, 03 Nov 10:36:00 2008

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton roared into the record books as Formula One's youngest champion when he snatched the title in last lap drama at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

FORMULA 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren / Foto EFE - 0

The 23-year-old, needing only a fifth place finish in the season-ending race to become Britain's first champion since Damon Hill in 1996, was seconds from failure for the second year in a row as Ferrari rival Felipe Massa swept to victory.

Hamilton entered the last lap in sixth place after a late shower forced a change to wet weather tyres and saw Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso overtake the McLaren.

With the title disappearing as fast as Massa's Ferrari approached the chequered flag, Hamilton had Toyota's Timo Glock to thank after the German stayed out on dry tyres and was unable to hold on to his fifth place.

Hamilton powered past as the final corner approached.

"Amazing, I can't even get my breath back," said the astonished Briton, who embraced his father and brother before being mobbed by the team.

Massa, Hamilton's sole title rival, won his home race for the second time in three years to chalk up a record 16th constructors' title for the Italian team.

Hamilton, who missed out by a single point to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in Brazil last season, ended the 18-race season one point clear of Massa.

"He scored more points than me, he deserves to win the title," said the disappointed race winner. "I know how to win, I know how to lose.

"This is another day of my life that I'm going to learn a lot from."

At 23 years and 301 days old, Hamilton broke the age record set by former McLaren team mate Fernando Alonso, the Spaniard who won the first of his two titles with Renault in Brazil at the age of 24, one month and 27 days.

Hamilton's title was the first for Mercedes-powered McLaren since Finland's Mika Hakkinen in 1999.

Massa, the first driver since Ayrton Senna in 1989 to miss out on the title after winning more races than anyone else, led from pole position after a start delayed for 10 minutes by a sudden downpour while the cars were waiting on the grid.

The safety car was then deployed for two laps after a collision that sent Britain's David Coulthard crashing into retirement after 15 seasons in Formula One.

The Scot's Red Bull tangled with the Williams of Kazuki Nakajima and Renault's Nelson Piquet, who was also eliminated from the race.

Alonso took second place in the race, with Raikkonen joining him on the podium to seize third place overall from BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica on race wins.

Reuters

Comment 2141 - 2160 of 2220

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  1. RAB Your a marked man watch yourself better clear that­ chip on your shoulder you will need to see who's­ creeping up behind you someone should teach you some­ respect............

    From edward.wheeler3, on Mon 3 Nov 3:31PM
  2. Dont let people like rab wind u up thats what he wants­ if he thinks like that then more the fool him lets just­ be happy for Lewis our British world champ !!!!!!

    From johnperrin43, on Mon 3 Nov 3:24PM
  3. To Mr. Rab:
    I dare you to print any of the following:­ your real name/phone number/country
    and see how really­ brave and tough you are.

    From Federal C, on Mon 3 Nov 3:14PM
  4. i am sooooooo happy for Lewis,just a shame that these­ racist fools are able to post comment,i see vlad(what­ an idiot)comments have all gone lets get rid of RAB( i­ am an ignorant fool) comments now,report him to site.

    From radfordj76, on Mon 3 Nov 3:08PM
  5. and rab you racist tool hamilton would kick the @#$%­ out of you you make the world a bad place just remember­ someone will be bigger and stronger than you hopefully­ you get sent to prison and raped by a coon as you call­ them that might shut your dirty mouth up your the scum­ of the world

    From chris, on Mon 3 Nov 3:06PM
  6. it wasnt a fat lady that sang it was massas family that­ sang and messed it up!

    From chris, on Mon 3 Nov 3:03PM
  7. WHEN are the idiots who dont get it going to understand­ that in F1 the rules are very simple.1;the driver with­ the most points after the seasons races are over WINS­ the drivers title.2;the team with the most points­ after the seasons races are over WINS the constructors­ title. its not difficult is it? or is it you dopey­ racist idiots.?HAMILTON is the world champion so accept­ it,even if max and his maFIA tried to stop it­ happening.Massa acted like a true sportsman afterwards­ and accepted the result with good grace,why cant all­ you bigots and racists do the same.ferrari and others­ will rise again which just makes for a season to look­ forward to next year.i thought with a few others that­ lewis had lost it but it just goes to show, it aint­ over till its over. thank god the fat lady sang before­ the race!

    From L.Prezidenti, on Mon 3 Nov 2:55PM
  8. why do we keep getting "invalid­ comments"posted after a perfectly reasonable­ script-some of the racist comments on here need­ reporting to the police.

    From L.Prezidenti, on Mon 3 Nov 2:46PM
  9. This is so apalling the high level of racist comments­ and remarks I hope you all suffer some form of­ agonising pain someday you mindless twats call youself­ human beings the dog @#$% on the path has more­ intellagance than all of you if you have nothing decent­ to say then just shut it twats

    From edward.wheeler3, on Mon 3 Nov 2:45PM
  10. Rab 2169 - I see you are consumed by hatred. Hatred­ which will kill you. You will die a lonely death you­ sad @#$% and your death will be slow and painful in­ Jesus name - Amen.

    From olawale, on Mon 3 Nov 2:40PM
  11. hamilton 1----- brazilian supporters lost WITH A Big 0­ OH SO BAD LOSERS

    From hants uk, on Mon 3 Nov 2:26PM
  12. hamilton 1----- brazilian supporters lost WITH A Big 0­ OH SO BAD LOSERS

    From hants uk, on Mon 3 Nov 2:26PM
  13. There was no controversy, no questions to be­ answered...............Glock was on dry tyers! The best­ man won...hence the title of Champion. He got the­ points, he had the skill and race wins to match that­ throughout the season. He raced for his life yesterday­ and kept us all on the edge of our seats.­ Congratulation Lewis Hamilton and to the team, you­ deserve this, no one can take it away or truly have any­ doubts of that! Oh and the lack of sportsmanship goes­ to the crowd in Brazil, well done!! Here's to the­ next season.......Lewis you have brought back the­ excitement to F1 for me and thank you whole heartedly­ for that!

    From mashleymagic, on Mon 3 Nov 2:23PM
  14. IT'S

    From Cliffe, on Mon 3 Nov 2:23PM
  15. grow up you twats well done lewis hamilton. ps give­ the guy a break

    From Marc, on Mon 3 Nov 2:23PM
  16. NASEER117

    HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE WORD­ "DICTIONARY" IT SOMETHING WE BRITISH USE TO­ CHECK OUR SPELLING.
    FOR A MORON WHO CAN'T STRING A­ COHERENT SENTENCE TOGETHER, WE NOW KNOW YOU KNOW­ @#$%-ALL ABOUT MOTOR RACING AS WELL... JUST EAT @#$%­ AND DIE MOTHA-FUKKA

    From Cliffe, on Mon 3 Nov 2:20PM
  17. naseer 117.What a big ,hard scary man you are.I am­ British and if you repeated any of your neanderthal­ bile to me in person,i`d rip your head off and pi*s­ down your neck.

    From Lee M, on Mon 3 Nov 2:06PM
  18. naseer 117.What a big ,hard scary man you are.I am­ British and if you repeated any of your neanderthal­ bile to me in person,i`d rip your head off and pi*s­ down your neck.

    From Lee M, on Mon 3 Nov 2:04PM
  19. Congratulation Lewis a well deserved victory for you­ and all your family. Just go to show that we have­ still got many champions in Britian. 2008 has been our­ year, first the olimpics, then that para-olimpics and­ now you have made it 3 in a row for Britain.

    WELL DONE­ AND CONGRATULATIONS

    From JUNE S, on Mon 3 Nov 1:54PM
  20. congrats to ahmilton you've earned it. Its been 12­ years, but We British have a champion in F1, i predict­ a lot more success in the future for him, and for­ British motor racing. He's inspired a whole­ generation to take up the sport, just what we need. btw­ for all u fans of Massa, unlucky guys, better luck next­ year

    From chris.iremonger, on Mon 3 Nov 1:41PM
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