"I HOPE this is the first of many," said an emotional Lewis Hamilton after becoming the youngest world champion in Formula One history in the most dramatic of circumstances.
Heading into the final lap of an astonishing 71-lap Brazilian Grand Prix with a storm poised to hit Interlagos, Hamilton was set for heartbreak again in Sao Paulo.
With Felipe Massa poised for victory and his fans ready to party into next week, Hamilton was down in sixth place after losing the fifth he required to Sebastien Vettel in his Toro Rosso on lap 69. At that stage Massa was 100 seconds away from taking the title on countback – six wins to Hamilton's five. But there was a glimmer of hope on the horizon in the form of Timo Glock, whose Toyota team opted to keep him out on dry tyres on a wet track.
Hamilton readily conceded his heart was in his mouth going into the last lap, and an expectant nation must surely have felt the same. When Massa took the chequered flag he was a champion in waiting at that stage, on the brink of becoming Brazil's first since the late, legendary Ayrton Senna in 1991. But the denouement arrived at the penultimate corner of the final lap of the last grand prix of the season as Hamilton passed Glock to move up to fifth, just 1,000 metres and 18 seconds from the line.
When he crossed it under black skies, it guaranteed him the title by a point from Massa, the honour of being the youngest champion ever and Britain's ninth overall. Hamilton joins Mike Hawthorn, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Sir Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill amongst Britain's greats, the last of them 12 years ago.
"It's been a fairytale story," reflected Hamilton, who at the age of ten told McLaren manager Ron Dennis he wanted to drive for his team. "He gave me my opportunity years ago. He had the foresight to bring me in, to groom me to get to this position. I've grabbed it with both hands and I've paid him back. I've paid him back in full, so I'm happy with that.
"I would like to thank, first and foremost, my family and then I thank God because he has been with me all year as he always is. And then there's Ron, Norbert (Haug, Mercedes Motorsport boss], Martin (Whitmarsh, McLaren F1 CEO] and all my friends.
"But right now, standing here, I honestly cannot realise that I'm champion...but it feels incredible, pretty much impossible to put into words. It's been such a long journey to get here, with all the sacrifices we've made. I'm so thrilled to do this for everyone after what was one of the toughest races of my life."
Sporting drama does not come any greater than yesterday, with Hamilton clearly not fully appreciating just what he had been embroiled in. But as far as he is concerned, in going forward, this could be the day that starts a Hamilton era.
He said: "I hope this is the first of many, but I don't know if my heart can take that final lap in many more seasons. It is absolutely fantastic, an amazing achievement, but one of the most troubled days.
"It was such a hard race, but now I'm ecstatic and very emotional. It has been so hard here in Brazil because everyone has been for Felipe, who did a fantastic job, and congratulations to him. I was silent in the car all the way through the race, which was very much under control for 90 per cent of the race, but with the last 10 per cent the hardest. To come out on top and to have the win, I am so thankful. I can't believe it."
Hamilton's father, Anthony, said: "I can't say (what I'm feeling]. I can't find any words – it's absolutely great." With many of the Interlagos crowd booing the result, he added: "That's a shame the crowd is doing this – they should be fair sports people. Oh well – on to the next one."
The start of the title-deciding grand prix was delayed for ten minutes as a torrential downpour hit the Interlagos track. Sunshine had dominated the day in Sao Paulo, with the temperature hitting 30 degrees centigrade, although heavy rain had been forecast. The fact it arrived three minutes before the official start merely added to the drama.
With the majority of the grid having switched to wet-weather tyres, they eventually filed away for their formation lap in which it was clear parts of the track were already starting to dry.
It was a clean start at the front of the grid as the leaders moved off in qualifying order, tip-toeing through the opening Senna S bend. But at the rear there was disaster for Red Bull's David Coulthard whose final grand prix of his 15-season career ended after just 300 metres.
The 37-year-old Scot was hit from behind by Williams' Nico Rosberg, sending him spinning out, colliding with Kazuki Nakajima in his Williams en route. Then Brazilian Nelson Piquet took his Renault into the barriers after a spin, with the incidents ultimately bringing the safety car into play for three laps.
With the track drying, it was all a question of when the drivers would start to come in and switch to dry tyres,
and eventually at the end of lap ten Massa made his first stop, as did Heikki Kovalainen, BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, along with team-mate Robert Kubica.
Then it was the turn of Trulli, Raikkonen and Hamilton, with the Finn managing to leapfrog the Italian who almost collected the Briton on exit.
After the shake-up of the first stops Hamilton had dropped to seventh, but he passed Trulli at the start of lap 13 who then spun coming out of the Senna S just in front of team-mate Glock.
Hamilton then found himself held up by Giancarlo Fisichella, before finally venturing off the dry line to take the Italian at the start of lap 18.
At the head of the field Massa was not streaking away as expected as Vettel, his car supported by a Ferrari engine, was constantly in the Brazilian's wing mirrors.
Alonso was in close attendance, with Raikkonen nearly 12 seconds down on his team-mate, and Hamilton making no impression as he was 17 seconds down after 22 laps.
After 36 laps, just over half race distance, Massa had opened up a 6.5-second advantage over Alonso, with Raikkonen a further 10.4secs down, Hamilton lying fourth four seconds behind the Finn.
After the shake-up of the second stops, Massa returned to the lead, comfortably so by 8.1secs from Vettel, followed by Alonso, Raikkonen and Hamilton, the latter 2.8secs behind the Finn's Ferrari.
It was a question now of Hamilton counting down the laps, although with him potentially having to stop one last time at the death, and with rain apparently again approaching.
With thunder booming overhead and 11 laps to run, it appeared only a matter of time before a storm would hit. Hamilton's brother Nicholas even ventured into the pit lane to take a look at the darkening skies as Lewis drew ever closer to the title.
Then with six laps to run the rain started to fall, and amazingly Massa stayed out whilst the four behind him in Alonso, Raikkonen, Hamilton and Vettel all came in to switch to wets.
Massa made it safely round lap 67 at the end of which he also took on wet tyres, and now it was a question of reeling off the laps as Hamilton had dropped to fifth. Towards the end of the 69th lap Vettel passed Hamilton to drop him to sixth, a result which would have lost him the title.
But on the very last lap, a kilometre from the end and on a track becoming increasingly hazardous, Hamilton passed a slowing Glock – fourth at the time – who had not switched from his dry tyres.
That elevated him to fifth, and as they swept into the final turn, with Massa having won the race, Hamilton eventually crossed the line to become the youngest world champion in Formula One history in the most dramatic of circumstances.
Moss insists new champion has already secured his place among driving legends
JAMES McMILLAN
BRITISH motor-racing legend Sir Stirling Moss believes that new Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has earned his place among the sport's all-time greats.
Moss said: "It was absolutely staggering. I thought the whole race was terrific and I think the right man won, Massa deserved it, and Lewis won the world title in a tremendous finish."
Asked whether Hamilton deserved his achievement, the 79-year-old added: "Absolutely. He's a racer. When you watch the way he drives, it's exciting because he gets on with it. He's tremendous on braking and he conserves his car, he's good in the wet, good in the dry – he's a remarkably good driver. He's learning every year. It's very difficult comparing drivers from my era, when it was really dangerous, to now, so it's not like for like. But I think if you're talking about a man's ability to control a car, use a car, I think he's up there (with the best] now."
Moss is widely regarded as the most talented driver to have never won the world championship. And after Hamilton almost lost his grip on the title on the season's final day for a second successive year, Moss expressed delight that the youngster had avoided his fate.
"I think he drove a very intelligent, careful race, which is what he needed to do, and if it hadn't have worked out the way it did, it would have been very unfortunate," Moss said. Hamilton's chances looked to have vanished when he was brought in for a rain-enforced tyre change just laps from the finish.
Ultimately, it proved a wise move as the Briton passed Glock, severely lacking grip on dry tyres, at the death – but Moss suggested the last-lap panic could have been averted by McLaren with an earlier pit stop. "I think the timing was a little bit out maybe," he said. "Perhaps one lap earlier (would have been better]."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown also paid tribute to Hamilton
. He said: "I, like so many, want to congratulate him on becoming world champion – the first championship I think of many that he's going to win in years to come. I think the whole country is thrilled by his exceptional talent. I think the whole of Britain are proud of the inspirational Lewis Hamilton and the McLaren team."
Eddie Jordan, founder and former owner of the Jordan team which competed in Formula 1 from 1991 to 2005, was relieved after Hamilton managed to claw back the title.
He said: "I've had a few scary moments myself – but I've never seen anything like it. Within a couple of corners of the finish he'd gone...I don't think anyone would want to go through that again. I don't want to be critical of Ron Dennis at this moment because it's a big moment for him...but by being defensive he allowed Ferrari to take the upper hand. And just by a fraction of luck at the very last moment he just got it back. I don't think he'd get away with that again." Jordan believes the conduct of the key men involved in yesterday's title showdown has enhanced the sport's reputation. The Irishman continued: "I thought Felipe Massa in winning, and Lewis and Anthony Hamilton were very dignified people. There's dignity in the Hamilton family. I think Lewis will make an outstanding world champion and will go on from here."
The Motor Sports Association – governing body of UK motor sport – also paid tribute. Chief executive Colin Hilton said: "His performances since his arrival in Formula 1 last year have set the world alight. His success comes as no surprise – it is fantastic news for the whole of British motor sport."
LEWIS HAMILTON FACTFILE
1985: Born Tewin, Hertfordshire, January 7.
2006: Has first test in a McLaren Formula One car, 13 September. Confirmed as race driver for 2007 season for McLaren, 24 November.
2007: Finishes third on Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix, 18 March.
After finishing second in Malaysia, Hamilton follows up with second in Bahrain to become the first driver in Formula One world championship history to finish on the podium in his first three races, 15 April.
Another second in Spain makes Hamilton the youngest driver to hold the outright lead in the drivers' standings, 13 May.
Claims first victory at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal after maiden pole, 10 June.
Follows up with pole and win at United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis, 17 June.
Taken to hospital after being involved in a 175mph smash in qualifying for the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. Finishes ninth in following day's race, 21 July.
McLaren are fined £49.2million and docked all points in the constructors' championship as a result of the spy scandal, but drivers' individual points are untouched, 13 September.
Wins Japanese Grand Prix in Fuji Speedway to open a 12-point gap over Alonso with two races remaining, 30 September.
Slides into a gravel trap on severely worn tyres and retires from Chinese Grand Prix, 7 October.
Loses the title by a point to Raikkonen in Brazil where he can only finish seventh due to a gearbox problem early in the race, 21 October.
2008: Signs new five-year contract through to 2012, worth around £10million per year, 18 January.
Wins Australian Grand Prix, 16 March.
Takes second win of the year at a rain-hit Monaco, despite clipping a barrier and puncturing a tyre early on, 25 May.
Crashes into the back of Raikkonen in the pit lane in the Canadian Grand Prix, sending both out and incurring a 10-place grid penalty for following race in France, 8 June
Wins a rain-lashed British Grand Prix at Silverstone, 6 July.
Becomes youngest world champion in Formula One history after finishing fifth in the Brazilian Grand Prix, 2 November.
BRITAIN'S MOTOR-RACING WORLD CHAMPIONS
Mike Hawthorn: 1958 (Ferrari)
Graham Hill: 1962 (BRM), 1968 (Lotus)
Jim Clark: 1963, 1965 (Lotus)
John Surtees: 1964 (Ferrari)
Jackie Stewart: 1969 (Matra), 1971 and 1973 (Tyrrell)
James Hunt: 1976 (McLaren)
Nigel Mansell: 1992 (Williams)
Damon Hill: 1996 (Williams)
Lewis Hamilton: 2008 (McLaren)
