Fans had been looking forward to it for years, and now it's come to a close. For 2007, Formula One stepped out of the dominating shadow of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, the first season since his retirement, and came to today's final race of the season in a close three-way battle between Ferrari's "iceman" Kimi Raikonnen and McLaren's feuding fraternity of defending champion Fernando Alonso and amazing rookie Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari's brave Brazilian Felipe Massa having fell out of contention earlier in the season.
The 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix was a thrilling end to a thrilling season and a gripping race in its own rite. SPOILER ALERT: Follow the jump to find out who won the race, who took the title and how it all went down.
The first two rows of the starting grid were divided up as they've been practically all season between the two front-running teams, with Felipe Massa taking pole alongside Lewis Hamilton, who looked almost assured to race to victory. Raikkonen lined up behind his team-mate in third, and Alonso behind his in fourth. Off the line Massa blocked Hamilton and Raikkonen swooped into second place, and the Ferraris lead the race from the first lap and held it almost exclusively the entire race. Hamilton meanwhile punted off the track and came back in fourth after the first corner, and things only went downhill for him as he dropped further down the field. On Lap 8, Hamilton's car almost inexplicably slowed down and it seemed the race might be over for the promising young driver, but he soon sped up again and fought to work his way back up the field, only to finish seventh, adding just two points to the 107 he brought with him to Brazil. Not enough.
Massa had a spectacular race, leading from the start through the middle of the race when it was time for both Ferraris to pit, and when it was over, Raikkonen had conveniently taken the lead over his team mate. Massa had said publicly before the race that if it would make the difference, he'd be willing to help Kimi clinch the title. It was a far more discreet switching of places than that seen in the Schumacher-Barrichello era, and Kimi acknowledged his team-mate's support.
Alonso was also in contention to secure what would have been his third consecutive world title, but the Spanish driver just couldn't keep pace with the red storm, finishing third on the podium alongside hometown hero Massa in second and Raikkonen on the top step of the podium. Nico Rosberg came in fourth for Williams, followed by BMW's Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld in fifth and sixth respectively, and Toyota's Jarno Trulli who scored the final point in eighth place behind Hamilton in seventh.
Raikkonen's brilliant victory was enough by one point for the Finn to secure the driver's championship. Hamilton's larger number of grand prix victories this season over his team mate meant he took second place in the standings to Alonso's third with the same points, Massa taking fourth followed by Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica who had a solid season with BMW-Sauber.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
tpp @ Oct 21st 2007 3:27PM
Go Kimi! FINALLY!
Solo Racer @ Oct 21st 2007 3:31PM
"Hamilton meanwhile punted off the track and came back in fourth after the first corner, and things only went downhill for him as he dropped further down the field."
Huh?! What race were you watching, Noah? Hamilton wasn't punted, he screwed up trying to get back by Alonso, who CLEANLY passed him, although, you neglect to mention that. Hamilton lost many positions because of mechanical/electrical issues, although he fought like hell to get back up the field, he couldn't get better than 7th. Still good enough for 2nd in the Driver's Championship, which is amazing.
For Kimi, all of those mechanical DNFs at McLaren are washed away. Signed by Peter Sauber to the Petronas team over the objections of the team owners, he's proven himself with 16 victories, a world championship, a stoic, but bluntly honest personality, and the ability to calmly mumble his way through every press conference.
fm @ Oct 22nd 2007 1:57AM
lol calmly and mumble are the key words here. I've always have to put the volume on high to try to make out what he says.
One thing I have to say is: Renault get rid of Fisichella. I'd say it was his last year. Hopefully.
Solo Racer @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:12AM
Fisi didn't impress anyone by driving right in front of the woeful Yamamoto and crashing himself out early in the race.
Solo Racer @ Oct 21st 2007 3:33PM
"Hamilton's larger number of grand prix victories this season over his team mate meant he took second place in the standings to Alonso's third with the same points,"
This is also wrong. Alonso and Hamilton were tied in victories, it was Hamilton having one more 2nd place finish that placed him ahead of the Spaniard.
Nick @ Oct 21st 2007 3:56PM
It was 5th place finishes IIRC.
As for the Ferrari team business, Kimi was just as deserving of the win as Massa. He was fastest through Q1 and Q2, had Q3 screwed up by Hamilton, and then during the race he clung to Felipe with no trouble, while grabbing fast lap in the process, and putting the pedal down when it counted. He said after the race they both had a lot more speed in the cars, so who is to say who would have won the race in a straight fight.
Regardless of all that, Raikkonen was certainly deserving of the Championship, more so than anyone else in the field in my eyes. He's had at least 2, if not 3, titles stolen from him over the past 4 years, it's about time that his car held together and the breaks went his way for a change.
Congratulations Kimi, enjoy it.
Hugo @ Oct 21st 2007 3:54PM
Great choke job by Hamilton, winning only 2 of 20 points in the final two races and handing the title to Ferrari. He is a rookie, after all.
Kimi was too lucky. The war between the two McLaren drivers allowed him to win the title. Not that he doesn't deserve it. He's been great when it most counted.
Ilya @ Oct 21st 2007 4:10PM
What an amazing race!
I wanted Raikkonen to win, although I knew he barely had a chance. But miraculously, it all went right for him! Still, you just have to bow down before Hamilton - he managed to finish at 7th place despite making many mistakes and having a serious technical problem. This kid will be very big in the future, not that he isn't already...
Random Task @ Oct 21st 2007 4:13PM
This is the kind of massive choke job that can scar someone for the rest of their career. Unbelievable gagging by Mclaren and Hamilton.
Zain @ Oct 21st 2007 4:36PM
And the drivers title makes it's way back to where it belongs! A great day for all tifosi around the world! WTG Kimi!
Solo Racer @ Oct 21st 2007 8:48PM
Uh, yeah, OK. Nothing like like riding everyone else's bad luck. Just like all of Alesi's victories.
Nick @ Oct 21st 2007 9:43PM
"Uh, yeah, OK. Nothing like like riding everyone else's bad luck. Just like all of Alesi's victories."
Because it's not like Kimi didn't have any bad luck this year either, right? Oh wait, he did, including 2 mechanical DNFs, a car that broke and drove him head-on into the wall at Monza relegating him to the T-car, and a major misstep by Ferrari at Fuji by starting on Inters. Yeah, he just rode a magic carpet all the way to the Title...
Solo Racer @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:46AM
OK, Nick, points taken. It wasn't a cake walk for the Finn. He certainly deserves the championship after enduring more bad luck than the next three F1 DNF'ers, which I said in another post.
Felipe @ Oct 21st 2007 5:16PM
BMW and Williams under investigation
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63547
There's no mention of this on the official F1 site, but if the 3 cars are sanctioned, Hamilton would get the championship (God, I hope not).
Craig @ Oct 21st 2007 8:13PM
It has been confirmed that the fuel temperature at refueling was more than 10 degrees centigrade below ambient temperature.
If they are disqualified then Hamilton moves up to fourth and takes the title.
As long as Alonso doesn't get the title (he is a whinging brat), I will be fine with the result.
RAV Designs @ Oct 21st 2007 6:51PM
The post-race interview session was one of the most uncomfortable things I've seen in a long time. Massa gave (or was forced to by Ferrari) Kimi that victory at his home track and he was clearly not happy. Kimi knew he didn't deserve the win. And Alonso looked like he was struggling to say something nice about McLaren, a team that he can't wait to leave.
Nick @ Oct 21st 2007 9:49PM
Raikkonen was just as deserving of the race win as Massa was. Kimi was at the top of the time sheets all weekend long, taking a Friday Practice session and then taking the first two Qualifying sessions, only losing out in the third session because Hamilton came out in front of Kimi during his "golden" laps. Add in the fact that Kimi -could- have pressed Massa and taken the lead right off the bat, but decided it was better to race smart, and then had no trouble keeping on Felipe's rear-end, and then dropping the hammer whenever Felipe peeled into the pits, and yea it's pretty clear the race could have gone either way if Massa and Raikkonen were actually fighting each other. Kimi even stated that they both had about another second left in the car and were just cruising to the finish.
fm @ Oct 22nd 2007 2:09AM
Wait a minute. All you guys are talking about how Kimi is just as deserving as Massa to win. That's BS.
If Massa was overtaken fair and square by Kimi, that's one thing, if he was forced to give his spot so that Kimi could get the championship then Kimi doesn't deserve the win and the title.
Nacho @ Oct 21st 2007 8:38PM
Confirmed, Raikkonen is the 2007 champion!!! http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/071022021834.shtml
Solo Racer @ Oct 21st 2007 8:43PM
"It was 5th place finishes IIRC."
That was what the SpeedTV boys said about the tie-breaker early in the race, then the apparently corrected themselves. GrandPrix.com concurred with the 2nd place finishes. Regardless, my point still stands. Autoblog's Mr. Joseph got it wrong. I don't want to pick on you you guys, but there was plenty of time to get the story right before posting. You know, "get first, but first get it right."