Hamilton Wins Formula One

November 3, 2008 by Stephen S Alison

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Hamilton Wins Formula One - Englishman Lewis Hamilton has become the youngest winner of the world Formula One drivers’ championship, at the ripe old age of 23 years and 301 days. The 23-year-old also became the sport’s first black champion, beating local Brazilian hero Felipe Massa of Ferrari by one point over the season. Also, after narrowly missing the championship by just 1 point in 2007, he becomes only the second driver to win the title in his second year, equalling a feat set previously by Jacques Villeneuve.

Hamilton started the race fourth on the starting grid and only needed to finish in the first five to win the championship. But his feat was only accomplished after what can best be described as a nail-biting rain-hit finish in which, after appearing to be in control of his destiny in fourth place, he slipped back to sixth and needed to recover at least one place to be sure of the title.That recovery was completed only at the final corner of the 71st and last lap of the race.

In scenes of near-pandemonium in a crowded pit lane, and in front of a partisan crowd of 100,000 fans, mostly rooting for the local hero Massa, Hamilton choked back tears of emotion as he embraced his father and manager Anthony.

I can’t talk, I just can’t speak. It’s pretty much impossible to put into words. I am still speechless. My whole family is here. And I am so proud for them. My dad’s here and he is the man. For us all, it has been such a long journey and with a lot of support from people back home.

My team did a fantastic job all year and all the sacrifices we made, I’m so thrilled to be able to do this for everyone.

Hamilton lost fifth place to young German Sebastien Vettel two laps from the end, but his team talked him through the final tense moments as he chased, to try and regain the place he needed, in what culd not have been a more dramatic conclusion to the championship.

Before it started to rain I was quite comfortable. My tyres were a little bit shot, so I was struggling to keep the pace up, but I was able to stay ahead of them and that’s all. Then it started to drizzle and I didn’t want to take any risks. Then Vettel got past me and I was told that I had to get in front of him. I couldn’t believe it. Then, at the last corner I managed to get past Glock and, I’m telling you, it was just amazing. I can only thank God!

Just before I got to him, they said you have to get past Glock! So I was trying my hardest to get to Vettel, but he was just as quick as me, if not a little bit quicker. It was one of the toughest races of my life, if not the toughest.

Hamilton is Britain’s ninth world champion, following on from Mike Hawthorn, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Sir Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill. He is McLaren’s seventh world champion after Emerson Fittipaldi, Hunt, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Mika Hakkinen.

Hamilton became the first driver in world championship history to claim a podium position in his first three grands prix, a record he went on to extend to nine.