Kimi Raikkonen finished first in the Brazilian Grand Prix and sealed a thrilling championship win with a one point lead over his rivals.
In what history may term as poetic justice, Ferrari claim both the driver’s and constructor’s F1 championships
Kimi Raikkonen was the most unlikely World Champion coming into the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, but he proved that his self-belief has not taken any knocks in this tumultuous season, as he took the chequered flag in first place, ahead of Fernando Alonso in third and Hamilton in seventh.
Raikkonen proved his quality by completing the job that he had set out to do that day.
Between himself and team mate Felipe Massa, their one-two performance kept Alonso at bay and ensured that Ferrari had a Driver’s Championship to go with their constructor’s title forever putting to rest the question mark on McLaren having gained a win on account of stolen technology.
Raikkonen went on driving faultlessly to the last, setting fastest lap times even as his first place finish was unchallengeable.
Hamilton’s efforts after serious early setbacks were impressive, but the job proved too big for him, and Alonso was left to consider what might have been.
Lewis Hamilton had astounded racing pundits with his cool nerve and amazing ability to absorb pressure through out the year.
But in the end the old-age adage of experience being the most crucial factor in the face of adversity came good with the 22-year-old Briton messing up his shot at becoming the first rookie to claim an F1 title as he first messed up his start.
First Kimi Raikkonen ’s Ferrari proved to be quicker off the block as it sneaked past Hamilton. As if that was not enough he next allowed team mate and title rival Fernando Alonso to sneak ahead.
To further ruin his chances he seemed to have a moment of madness as he instantly looked to pass Alonso in the very first turn even as the Spaniard had already bolted the door.
Hamilton’s desperate move saw him lock up his tyres and careen off the track. He joined back having gone down from his second place start to eighth.
The God’s of speed however did not seem to have had enough of toying with him as his car appeared to die down before miraculously coming back to life but leaving him at a title-snatching 18 place in the race.
Kimi Raikkonen suddenly found himself with a much better shot at the title than he might have believed. His local team-mate Felipe Massa led the race from the start, but Raikkonen’s own start catapulted him into second, where he stayed for most of the race.
The possible change in the tide of the race came in the 50th lap, as both Ferrari’s pitted in quick succession.
Massa entered the pits first and emerged in second behind his team mate, but when Raikkonen pitted two laps later, a slick 6.2 second stop by the Ferrari mechanics allowed him out inches ahead of Massa.
At this point Raikkonen looked certain to win the race, and with Hamilton way back and Alonso beginning to struggle, the Championship looked like it may be
Ferrari and Raikkonen’s for the taking.
Hamilton’s final stop came in the 57th lap from 8th place, and 5.2 seconds spent stationary were enough to allow David Coulthard to get ahead of him as he dropped back to ninth.
Raikkonen continued to set the pace in first place, with Alonso in fourth after his final stop.
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