2008 Formula One season
Season 2009>
The Formula 1 2008 season was the 59th FIA Formula 1 World Championship. She was discharged through 18 races in the period from 16 March to 2 November. Like last year, the World Championship was not decided until the last race in which Lewis Hamilton won his first world title by a single point ahead of Felipe Massa. The constructors' championship was like in 2007 to Ferrari.
The season brought with Hamilton the hitherto youngest champion in Formula 1 history and forth with Sebastian Vettel the youngest pole sitter and race winner.
- 5.1 Australian Grand Prix
- 5.2 Malaysian Grand Prix
- 5.3 Grand Prix of Bahrain
- 5.4 Grand Prix of Spain
- 5.5 Grand Prix of Turkey
- 5.6 Grand Prix of Monaco
- 5.7 Canadian Grand Prix
- 5.8 Grand Prix of France
- 5.9 Grand Prix of Great Britain
- 5:10 Grand Prix of Germany
- 5:11 Grand Prix of Hungary
- 5:12 European Grand Prix
- 5:13 Grand Prix of Belgium
- 5:14 Grand Prix of Italy
- 5:15 Singapore Grand Prix
- 5:16 Grand Prix of Japan
- 5:17 Grand Prix of China
- 5:18 Grand Prix of Brazil
- 7.1 Drivers' Championship
- 7.2 Constructors' Championship
Changes in 2008
Racetracks
During the 2008 season 18 Great prices and thus a more than last year took place. Instead of the European Grand Prix on the Nürburgring Grand Prix of Germany was held at the Hockenheimring in the agreed rotation as a single race in Germany. It was the first on August 24 on an approximately 5.4 km course at the new America's Cup port city of Valencia race, which was held as a European Grand Prix. In addition, a Formula 1 race in Singapore was held for the first time on September 28. The path for the Singapore Grand Prix has a length of 5.067 km and leads to 70 percent on public roads. Another innovation of this Grand Prix was the first night race in Formula 1 history. The Grand Prix of USA Indianapolis was not played.
Rules
For the 2008 season, there have been several changes to the regulations: The most dramatic compared to previous years was the mandatory use of a common electronic engine control for all vehicles and a condition related thereto ban on traction control. The new engine management SECU (Standard Electronic Control Unit) was developed by Microsoft and McLaren and imposed after a bidding process by the FIA standard. Some teams put these electronics in 2007 during test runs and had considerable problems in adapting to their engine. Within the regulated limits the racing teams were allowed to continue to develop the new control unit. Another change was that at least 5.75 percent of gasoline had to consist of biofuel. However, the already homologated for the 2007 V8 engines were allowed in principle not be changed. In addition, the third segment of the qualification was reduced to 10 instead of the previous 15 minutes. After the withdrawal of the Super Aguri team in the current season eliminated after the first two segments only five instead of the current six drivers from. Also, was not allowed to refuel after the third segment, so that the driver, who reached the third round of qualifying with the amount of fuel that they had at the end of qualifying on board had to go in the race.
Driver
The Scuderia Toro Rosso announced in August 2007 the obligation of the former Champ Car driver Sebastien Bourdais known. The Frenchman signed for two years. Fernando Alonso's contract with McLaren -Mercedes was dissolved by mutual consent after just one season. He 'll start again in 2008 for Renault. This was confirmed by the French team as well as the promotion of the former test driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to race drivers. In return, McLaren undertook the previous Renault driver Heikki Kovalainen for the vacant cockpit. The Williams team announced in November 2007 that the Japanese Kazuki Nakajima will contest the 2008 season alongside Nico Rosberg. The German Timo Glock took the place of Ralf Schumacher at a Toyota. This, in turn, announced that he would go in the 2008 DTM at the start. A return is not excluded. The former Renault driver Giancarlo Fisichella signed for 2008 with the new team Force India and thus was team-mate Adrian Sutil.
Team
David Richards, who wanted to participate with Prodrive as the twelfth team in the Formula 1 World Championship 2008 originally, was on 22 November 2007 that his team will definitely not participate in the 2008 season. Was also nothing from the entry for the year 2009.
Teams and Drivers
1 McLaren -Mercedes automatically dropped to the last position in the team rankings due to a penalty as a result of espionage affair.
Presentations
1 Renault has officially unveiled the new R28 on January 31 in Paris. However, the first test drive with the new car took place at the tests in Valencia already on January 22.
2 Williams gave up a presentation.
3 Super Aguri at first planned to present in Barcelona the new SA08 on February 19. Due to the short term financial problems incurred by the team presentation was canceled. The SA08 was finally unveiled to the Australian Grand Prix just before the start of the first practice session.
Race Calendar
Race Reports
Grand Prix of Australia
The Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne was held on March 16, 2008 and received over a distance of 58 laps of 5.303 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 307.574 km.
The first pole of the season scored in 1:26,714 minutes Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren -Mercedes in front of the BMW - Sauber's Robert Kubica and the second McLaren drivers Heikki Kovalainen. World Champion Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari was favored by technical problems in qualifying only on the 15th place.
Hamilton was able to maintain his lead at the start, while further back in the field came to the first collisions. Ferrari driver Felipe Massa spun in the first turn, damaged his car and dropped back to last place.
After further collisions and a variety of technical default and three safety car periods ended only seven riders the race, Lewis Hamilton decided the sovereign itself. He had only opponent in his teammate Heikki Kovalainen, who dropped by an unfavorable pit stop in fifth place, and Nick Heidfeld in the BMW Sauber, who reached before Williams driver Nico Rosberg in second place.
The sixth- place finisher Rubens Barrichello was taken later for leaving the pit lane in red from the ranking, so Kazuki Nakajima and actually failed pilot Sebastien Bourdais and Kimi Raikkonen with three or five laps behind the positions six to eight aufrückten. The fastest lap of the race Kovalainen drove in 1:27,418 minutes.
Grand Prix of Malaysia
The Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang took place on 23 March 2008 and received over a distance of 56 laps of 5.543 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 310.408 km.
On the pole position in the Ferrari Felipe Massa drove in 1:35,748 minutes ahead of his teammate Kimi Raikkonen and Jarno Trulli in the Toyota. The McLaren drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton in qualifying reached the third and fourth fastest time, but were subsequently demoted for willful obstruction by driving slowly up five places to the rear.
Massa took advantage of his grid position and took the lead, but Raikkonen took off him during his first pit stop. It initially looked for a safe double victory for Ferrari before Felipe Massa retired due to a driver error from the race. Kimi Raikkonen won safely at the end ahead of BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica and Kovalainen. For the BMW - Sauber team, there was the second podium finish in the second race.
Nick Heidfeld reached number six and drove in 1:35,366 minutes, the fastest race lap. It was the first fastest lap of the race Heidfeld Formula 1 career and also the first for BMW - Sauber.
Grand Prix of Bahrain
The Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit was held on April 6, 2008 and received over a distance of 57 laps of 5.412 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 308.238 km.
Robert Kubica in the BMW Sauber secured in 1:33,096 minutes ahead of Ferrari 's Felipe Massa and McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton pole position. Hamilton fell after a failed start back to tenth place and had to take in the second round of an unscheduled pit stop to let install a new front wing after a collision on the Renault of Fernando Alonso. He finished the race in 13th place and thus gained no championship points.
Massa went on startup past Kubica and Raikkonen also in the second Ferrari was able to overtake the poles after a few rounds. Thus, the Brazilians won at the end of a relatively uneventful race ahead of his teammate and Kubica. Only three drivers were forced to retire prematurely. The fastest lap of the race went Heikki Kovalainen ( McLaren) in 1:33,193 minutes.
Grand Prix of Spain
The Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya took place on 27 April 2008 and went over a distance of 66 laps of 4.655 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 307.230 km.
Kimi Raikkonen secured in the Ferrari in 1:21,813 minutes the pole position ahead of local hero Fernando Alonso in the Renault and Felipe Massa ( Ferrari also ). Already in the first round came after a collision between Adrian Sutil and Sebastian Vettel to a use of the Safety Car. Sutil and Vettel had to retire from the race.
In the 22nd lap of the race Heikki Kovalainen came to a rim fracture from a high speed off the track and crashed into a tire wall. Here, his race car slid partially under the tires - the Finn was temporarily unconscious. After recovery by the marshals he was taken to hospital, where no serious injuries were noted.
The started from the front row Alonso, who had been overtaken before the first corner of Massa, dropped after the first pit stops back to sixth place and had to quit because of an engine failure the race on lap 34. Nick Heidfeld was given a stop-and -go penalty because he planned nachtankte early in the second, triggered by Kovalainen's accident safety car phase, although the pit lane was not open yet. Heidfeld had completed at this time no stop and missed at the end of ninth place points finish just barely.
Kimi Raikkonen won the race clearly ahead of his team-mate Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton. In 1:21,670 minutes he also set the fastest lap of the race and made so that the triple completely.
Grand Prix of Turkey
The Turkey Grand Prix at the Istanbul Park Circuit took place on 11 May 2008 and received over a distance of 58 laps of 5.338 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 309.396 km.
The fastest time in qualifying ( 1:27,617 minutes) drove Ferrari driver Felipe Massa and thus started from the pole position. He was followed by Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton (both McLaren). The overall leader Kimi Raikkonen ( Ferrari also ) qualified for position four.
After the start, it came in the first turn of an accident between Nakajima and Fisichella, moved the safety car. Furthermore, there was a contact between Heikki Kovalainen and Kimi Raikkonen. Here, the rear tires of the McLaren of Kovalainen was slit and world champion Raikkonen lost important positions against Kubica ( BMW) and Alonso ( Renault). Kovalainen now had to work your way from the back, but did not reach the end of one of the points positions. Raikkonen, however, hung long stuck behind the slower Kubica and thus lost the battle for second place against Lewis Hamilton, who was able to pull the necessary time with an aggressive strategy and free ride.
In the meantime, it looked as if it could even Hamilton Felipe Massa are dangerous because a long time it was not clear how often he would stop. Eventually, however, Massa drove out a relatively easy victory and won the Turkish Grand Prix for the third time in a row. Nick Heidfeld came to a moderate skill in fifth place, just behind his team-mate Kubica. Alonso finished only sixth place despite a good start. The fastest race lap Raikkonen in 1:26,506 minutes.
Grand Prix of Monaco
The Monaco Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco took place on 25 May 2008. He did not go the full distance of 78 laps of 3.340 kilometers, which would have corresponded to a total distance of 260.520 km, but was stopped with the rules after two hours. Through rain and numerous accidents caused only 76 laps and a total distance of 253.840 kilometers were traveled.
The pole position on the narrow street circuit secured Felipe Massa in the Ferrari at 1:15,787 minutes ahead of his teammate Kimi Raikkonen. On the third and fourth place Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen followed (both McLaren).
At the start of the formation lap the car of Kovalainen on the grid stopped, so that the Finn had to take the race from the pit lane at the end but still scored a World Championship point. After the start, at the Hamilton overtook started in front of him directly Raikkonen, Massa initially led unchallenged, while Hamilton had prematurely in round 6 because of a driving error and the resulting tire damage to the box. Raikkonen was given a drive-through penalty because his team had not yet mounted the tire on his Ferrari three minutes before the start, as required by the rules. Massa had thus after a short period been a comfortable lead, but the leadership lost by a braking mistake by starting and finishing at Robert Kubica (BMW) and finished behind Poland's third.
The winner was, despite his driving error at the beginning of Lewis Hamilton. He captured so well the championship lead, because previously the main Räikkönen lost his seemingly secured fifth place just before the end by a self-inflicted collision with Adrian Sutil ( Force India ) and was only ninth. Sutil had managed in the rainy and chaotic race through tactical skill and meanwhile fastest laps to number four forward, his car but had to stop after the accident. Overall, there were two safety car phases: the first after an accident between Bourdais and Coulthard, the second after a spectacular departure of Nico Rosberg at the level of the swimming pool chicane.
Again came Mark Webber in the Red Bull, who was advancing by the accident of Raikkonen and Sutil in fourth place in the points. Nick Heidfeld was Fourteenth; Sebastian Vettel ( Toro Rosso ) achieved fifth place. The fastest lap of the race Kimi Raikkonen drove in 1:16,689 minutes.
Grand Prix of Canada
The Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles -Villeneuve took place on 8 June 2008 and went over a distance of 70 laps of 4.361 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 305.270 km.
In the qualification conquered McLaren's Lewis Hamilton in the first 1:17,886 minutes starting place ahead of Robert Kubica ( BMW Sauber ) and world champion Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari).
After a start without incident Hamilton sat relatively quickly from his pursuers. However, in the 19th round came after the failure of Adrian Sutil and subsequent safety car phase to a curious collision in the box: Hamilton ignored the red light at the pit exit, at the Raikkonen just as Kubica had held before him, and went on to Raikkonen's Ferrari. Both then had to retire from the race. Also Williams driver Nico Rosberg damaged while his car and came after the repair to its box only in 10th place finish.
The failures of the favorites used Kubica and his BMW -Sauber team-mate Nick Heidfeld, the text of which made up the race alone. Kubica won against Heidfeld and thus assumed the lead in the World Cup overall standings. Third place went to veteran David Coulthard at Red Bull ahead of Timo Glock, who thus achieved the best result his Formula 1 career. Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, who had fallen far behind the safety car phase, secured fifth place, four points. Sebastian Vettel, who had to start due to a chassis change from the pit lane, had worked its way during the race in eighth place, which he successfully defended in the final laps against Heikki Kovalainen ( McLaren). The fastest lap of the race went, despite his early failure again Kimi Raikkonen ( 1:17,384 minutes).
Hamilton and Rosberg were (ie due to indirect disregard the red light ) penalized after the race because of the rear-end collision in the pit lane and set back for the following French Grand Prix after qualifying ten places.
Grand Prix of France
The French Grand Prix at the Circuit de Nevers Magny -Cours took place on 22 June 2008 and went over a distance of 70 laps of 4.411 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 308.586 km.
The pole position secured Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari with a time of 1:16,449 minutes ahead of his teammate Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso in the Renault, the third grid position inherited by the disciplinary transfer of Lewis Hamilton.
The two Ferrari drivers dominated the race from start away and sat down quickly on the rest of the field. Raikkonen had his best qualifying translated into a clear lead until threw him back on lap 36, a broken exhaust pipe behind Felipe Massa. The Brazilian reeled off the laps to the finish safely and took the inherited victory thanks.
The only moment of tension in the largely uneventful race was the battle for third place between Jarno Trulli in the Toyota and Heikki Kovalainen ( McLaren) in the final rounds, which ruled the Italians with a strong combat power for themselves. The fastest race lap again Kimi Raikkonen in 1:16,630 minutes.
Grand Prix of Great Britain
The Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit was held on 6 July 2008 and went over a distance of 59 laps of 5.141 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 303.214 km.
The pole position secured McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen in 1:21.049 minutes. It was the first pole position of the Finns. Second was surprisingly Mark Webber in the Red Bull ahead of Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari).
Lewis Hamilton succeeded in starting from position four of the best start, the Briton sorted directly to the beginning of the rainy race behind his team-mate Kovalainen one, he began to fall under pressure. On lap 5, he managed to take the lead, which he did not relinquish it until the finish. Kimi Raikkonen, who caught up in the meantime to Hamilton, was the victim of a strategy error of his team, which made the used intermediate tires at the first stop on the trolley.
Overall, many drivers it started to rain again and again turned in on and off the track, only winners Hamilton and the second-placed Nick Heidfeld (BMW ) remained flawless. Surprise was third veteran Rubens Barrichello to Honda, who joined at the right time on full wet tires and thus had at times up to five seconds for the rest of the field well made. The fastest lap of the race went once more world champion Raikkonen in 1:32,150 minutes.
Grand Prix of Germany
The Grand Prix of Germany at the Hockenheimring was held on 20 July 2008 and went over a distance of 67 laps of 4.574 km, corresponding to a total distance of 306.458 km.
The race was won by Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren -Mercedes ahead of Nelson Piquet Jr. in the Renault, who finished second surprising. Ferrari driver Felipe Massa finished the race in third place.
Timo Glock had in the 36th round of a major accident at the outset of the start -finish straight, but was uninjured. Fisichella was given subsequently by the race, a 25 -second time penalty, as he had, and thus rounded back too early foul during the safety car period. The fastest lap of the race, Nick Heidfeld drove with 1:15,987 minutes.
Grand Prix of Hungary
The Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring was held on August 3, 2008 and received over a distance of 70 laps of 4.381 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 306.663 km.
Heikki Kovalainen won the fourth fin and a total of 100 winners his first Formula 1 race. The second placed Timo Glock was the first time in his Formula 1 career on the podium. Third place went to Kimi Raikkonen. Felipe Massa difference in the lead two laps to go through an engine failure, while the back fell Championship leader Lewis Hamilton by a puncture and the subsequent additional stop at position five. Again Raikkonen drove the fastest lap of the race ( 1:21,195 minutes ) after it was hardly noticed about most of the time. In the final section, however, he strongly took on the second placed Glock, but remained third after the Ferrari team had called him after the failure of Massa for gentle driving style.
Grand Prix of Europe
The European Grand Prix at the Valencia Street Circuit was held on 24 August 2008 and went over a distance of 57 laps of 5.419 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 308.883 km. The Felipe Massa secured pole position ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Robert Kubica. Also the finish line corresponded to that order. The fastest lap of the race Massa drove in 1:38,708 minutes.
After the race there was an investigation against Felipe Massa, who was almost collided when leaving the box with Adrian Sutil. The finish was confirmed. Massa has been warned and punished with a fine of 10,000 euros.
Grand Prix of Belgium
The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa- Francorchamps was held on 7 September 2008 and received over a distance of 44 laps of 7.004 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 308.052 km.
Had started from pole position, Lewis Hamilton lost at the beginning of the race, his lead to Kimi Raikkonen, who started from fourth place and had already overtaken his team mate Felipe Massa. The order at the top changed only pit stop due - two laps to go it looked but from a safe victory of Raikkonen. Once it had started to rain before, but second-placed Hamilton was able to recover rapidly and delivered with the Finns a duel for the lead. This was decided by the British after several lead changes, ultimately for themselves, while Raikkonen after slipping with wall contact was forced to retire shortly before the start of the last lap. The fastest lap of the race with Räikkönen drove 1:47,930 minutes.
Hamilton crossed the finish line first, but was subsequently fined for truncated because the bus stop chicane in a duel with Raikkonen with a time penalty of 25 seconds, and ranked third. McLaren appealed against the sentence officially a protest. This was refused. Thus, Felipe Massa was at the Green table winner of the race. Timo Glock also received a 25 - second penalty for overtaking under a yellow flag and lost by eight place to Mark Webber.
Grand Prix of Italy
The Grand Prix of Italy at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza took place on 14 September 2008 and received over a distance of 53 laps of 5.793 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 306.720 km.
The intriguing and sometimes heavy rainfall race weekend went down in the history of Formula 1 by several records. After Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver in the history of Formula 1 took pole position in the wet qualifying session already, he also won the race as the youngest Formula 1 driver ever. It was also the first victory for the Scuderia Toro Rosso. With the second-placed Heikki Kovalainen and the third-placed Robert Kubica, there was also the youngest podium trio of Formula 1 history. Championship hopeful Lewis Hamilton was only started from 15th place in the race and was still catching up after seventh behind his title rival Felipe Massa. The fastest lap of the race with Räikkönen drove 1:28,047 minutes.
Singapore Grand Prix
The Singapore Grand Prix on the Marina Bay Street Circuit was held on September 28, 2008 instead of over a distance of 61 laps of 5.067 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 309.087 km. It was the 800th Formula 1 race in the history and also the first race, which was held under floodlights.
The Ferrari driver Felipe Massa started from pole position ahead of Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes and Kimi Räikkönen to Ferrari.
After an accident, Nelson Piquet junior with subsequent safety car phase and a breakdown in Massa's first fuel stop eventually won Fernando Alonso, who had started from position 15 in the victory. After a second safety car period shortly before race end Lewis Hamilton was just behind Nico Rosberg. Hamilton drove to 3rd place, which he did. His lead over Massa, his immediate rivals in the championship standings, enlarged to seven points The fastest lap of the race with Räikkönen drove 1:45,599 minutes.
Allegations of manipulation of the race by a deliberately caused accident by Nelson Piquet junior, the FIA took in August 2009 investigation. In this context, announced on September 16, 2009 Team boss Flavio Briatore and chief engineer Pat Symonds to their posts. The Motorsport World Council condemned Renault 21 September 2009 to two years' probation. Pat Symonds has been banned for five years, Flavio Briatore for life for all FIA events. Nelson Piquet junior was as had been promised him immunity, without penalty. Both the barrier against Briatore and Symonds was lifted against the 5 January 2010 by a French court. In support, the court stated that the barrier due to the weak evidence was irregular. In addition, Briatore a compensation of 15,000 euros was awarded. The International Automobile Federation FIA announced immediately to go against that judgment may be appealed.
Grand Prix of Japan
The Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway was held on 12 October 2008 and went over a distance of 67 laps to 4.563 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 305.721 km. The McLaren - Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton started from pole position ahead of Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari and Heikki Kovalainen McLaren - Mercedes.
Right at the start Raikkonen overtook Hamilton, but was, like Massa and Kovalainen, Hamilton, who tried to counter in the first turn with an aggressive maneuver, pushed off the track. But Hamilton was given a drive-through penalty later. David Coulthard collided with Kazuki Nakajima and retired. Felipe Massa collided with Lewis Hamilton, whereupon he fell back to the end of the field. Massa also got a drive-through penalty. Thus it succeeded Fernando Alonso to win the second win in a row. The fastest lap of the race Massa drove with 1:18,496 minutes.
Due to a later pronounced 25 -second time penalty against Sébastien Bourdais, who was at the race in sixth place, this dropped to tenth place. Bourdais was penalized because he collided after leaving the pit lane with Felipe Massa. However, both drivers were able to continue their race.
Grand Prix of China
The Grand Prix of China at the Shanghai International Circuit was held on 19 October 2008 and went over a distance of 56 laps of 5.451 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 305.066 km.
McLaren - Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton started from pole position in front of the Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. In a largely uneventful race Hamilton managed a ungefährdeter start-finish victory in front of Massa and Raikkonen. Shortly before the end of the race, leaving second-placed Raikkonen team-mate without a fight its position, so that in the final race in Brazil still had intact World Cup chances.
The fastest lap of the race Hamilton was driving with 1:36,325 minutes in round 13
Grand Prix of Brazil
The Grand Prix of Brazil at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace was held on 2 November 2008 and went over a distance of 71 laps of 4.309 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 305.909 km.
From the pole position launched the Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, who later drove the fastest lap in 1:13,736 minutes and won the race. Fernando Alonso confirmed with a solid second place moved out the upward trend of Renault in the last race of the season and crossed the finish line ahead of Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel. Lewis Hamilton was fifth, one point ahead of World Champion.
At the beginning and end of the race put a rain, was started ten minutes late. Coulthard and Piquet Jr dropped out already in the first round. Sebastian Vettel could work your way up to second place and keep up with the leading Massa thanks to its aggressive three-stop strategy long.
The rain just before the end forced almost all the drivers again to change tires in the pits. In the dramatic final laps Massa seemed actually to be a world champion, as Hamilton was overtaken by the onrushing Vettel and thus was only in sixth place after Timo Glock had stayed on dry tires on the track and had taken the fourth place. In this constellation, Massa would have been tied with Hamilton World Champion, since he could notch up a victory this season more. In the final round, however, Vettel and Hamilton drove past in the field of JUNCAO curve at Glock, who could hold his Toyota with dry tires barely on the always wet expectant route. Hamilton thus secured the decisive point against Massa.
Qualifyingduelle
This table shows that have achieved better rankings in qualifying in the Team which driver.
World Cup ratings
World Champion will be the one driver or designer who has accumulated up to the end of the season the most points in the World Championship. The distribution of points, the placings in the overall result of each race are taken into account. The eight first-placed rider in each race will receive points according to the following scheme: