The ten best Formula One season finales

2008 BRAZIL GRAND PRIX

Britain's Lewis Hamilton lifted the title in 2008 but only after putting his fans through the mixer with a wild performance. Heading into the Brazilian Grand Prix it was a straight fight between Hamilton for McLaren and Felipe Massa of Ferrari. Hamilton's seven-point lead meant if Massa won his home Grand Prix he could afford to finish fifth and still take the title. Things couldn't go wrong. Could they? Massa was on pole and dominated the race. Meanwhile Hamilton started a gut-wrenching fourth on the grid and when the heavens opened his points lead began to look precarious. On lap 63 a spot of rain was felt again and the teams began to gamble with a flurry of pit stops. On lap 69 of 71 the heavens truly opened but Hamilton was still in fifth but struggling to hold off a rampaging Sebastian Vettel in his Toro Rosso. Vettel eventually got through pushing Hamilton into sixth and dashing his title ambitions for the second year running. Massa took the chequered flag and as it stood was the new world champion. Everyone focused on Hamilton with most thinking that passing Vettel was his only hope. Then on the final corner of the final race of the 2008 season, Hamilton passed Timo Glock who was struggling to cope with the rainy conditions. Hamilton eased past and became the youngest-ever winner of the Formula One world championship.

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