Hamilton wins title after final lap drama
Despite winning less grands prix than Felipe Massa, Lewis Hamilton's five victories were enough
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Sunday, 02, Nov 2008 09:10
Lewis Hamilton has clinched the world championship after finishing fifth in a pulsating Brazilian grand prix at Interlagos.
The Briton becomes the youngest ever formula one champion after sealing the drivers' championship by one point over Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who won the race.
Needing to finish at least fifth to win the title, Hamilton dropped to sixth with two laps remaining after a late shower forced him into the pits.
But the McLaren driver passed Toyota's Timo Glock on the final corner to take fifth and win the title in dramatic fashion.
The only consolation for Ferrari is they win the constructors' championship after Kimi Raikkonen took third behind Renault's Fernando Alonso.
But it was Hamilton's day as he makes up for the misery of last season where he lost the title by one point in Brazil.
Hamilton made a cautious start and slipped to sixth after early pit stops by Alonso and Torro Rosso's Sebastien Vettel. The 23-year-old moved into fifth after overtaking Force India driver Giancarlo Fisichella.
He then moved up to fourth due to Vettel's three-stop strategy before a late shower five laps before the end threatened to destroy his title hopes.
Hamilton pitted to switch to wet tyres which saw him slip to fifth behind Glock. A ruthless Vettel then passed the Briton, which looked to have given Massa the title.
Hamilton passed Glock, who was struggling on the dry tyres, on the final hill before the finishing line to finish fifth and fulfil his title dream.