F1 Classics #1: 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix: Massa's Heartbreak; Hamilton's Glory
F1 Classics #1: 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix: Massa's Heartbreak; Hamilton's Glory
Over the years, Formula 1 has had it's fair share of dramatic finales, but few can only can match the sheer emotional rollercoaster of the 2008 season finale in Brazil. On November 2, under the watchful eyes of his faithful home crowd, Felipe Massa seemed to fufill his nation's dreams and become the first Brazilian F1 champion since the great Aryton Senna - only for fate and Lewis Hamilton, to rewrite history at the very last corner.
Picture Above: Lewis Hamilton zooming past the checkered flag, coming in P5 and winning his first Driver's Championship title
2008 Fomula 1 Season:
Race 18 of 18: 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix
Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo, Brazil
Going into Interlagos, the championship was on knife-edge. Following the events from the Chinese Grand Prix two weeks earlier, it was all to race for here in Brazil but it was Mclaren's Lewis Hamilton who had the advantage, going into Interlagos with a 94 points, while Ferrari's Felipe Massa, the local hero, had 87 to his name. The task ahead for both drivers was simple. Hamilton needed a position above P5 to secure his maiden title. For Massa to be crowned champion, he needed to win the race while Hamilton must finish below P5. For Massa, victory in front of his home crowd would not only give him a chance at winning the title, it would be the ultimate redemption it what has been a roller coaster of a season. For Hamilton, it was righting the wrongs of 2007, when his hopes of becoming the champion in his rookie season slipped away in this same venue.
Following qualification, Massa would take pole position while Hamilton started the race in P4. Since the race started, Massa would be the star of the show, maintaing P1 comfortably with a calm confidence. For 70 laps, Massa did everything he needed to do, as the Samba beats of São Paulo were turned up to full volume, with hundreds of Brazilian flags waved in the air from the grandstands. Meanwhile, Hamilton was starting to feel the pressure, dropping all the way down to P6, two places down from where he started. When the rain started to fall with just a couple laps to go, the championship took a dramatic turn. Due to the rain, most drivers - including Hamilton - switched to intermediate tyres. But, Timo Glock of Toyota, decided to roll the dice, staying out on the slick tyres, trying to gain a few places. Suddenly, Hamilton was running in P6, and Massa was on course to be world champion.
Massa crossed the line first, sparking jubilation in the Ferrari garage, with his pit crew and family already in the celebrations, believing that their man, Felipe Massa was the 2008 World Champion. However, this race was far from over. Hamilton's desperation was starting to grow. For a split second, it looked history would repeat itself from last year. As he powered through the final corners in desperation, he caught the Toyota of Timo Glock, which was sliding helplessly on the slick tyres through the damp track. In one heart-stopping move at the final corner, on the final lap, Hamilton overtook Glock, reclaiming the so-desired 5th place. He then crossed the line just seconds later - winning the driver's championship by one point. Some claim that it was the most famous split-screen moment in Formula 1 history. On one side, the Ferrari garage erupted into raptures, only to be silenced a few seconds later when the reality sunk in. On the other side, Mclaren's crew exploded with joy, as they were already on their way to welcome their newest world champion. For Felipe Massa, it was a cruel twist of fate, as his flawless home victory wasn't enough, meanwhile, for Lewis Hamilton, it would be the start of his legacy.
Following the events of Brazil, Massa would spend another 5 seasons with Ferrari, but after his 2008 runner-up season, Massa would suffer a fractured skull in the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, which would see him out for the second half of the season. In 2013, after four more seasons with Ferrari, Massa switched the Tifosi for Williams. Following four more seasons with the men from Grove, before retiring after the 2017 season, with his last grand prix being in front of his home crowd in São Paulo, one final time. Meanwhile, this would be the first of many more World Championship titles for Lewis Hamilton, as he went on to win six more titles, following his 2013 move to Mercedes. Following three tough seasons between 2022 and 2024, fighting for a bid for his eigth Championship, Hamilton shocked the world when he made his move to Ferrari, where he currently drives, still seeking his first podium for them. However, while driving for Mercedes, Hamilton surpassed Michael Schumacher's record of 91 wins, winning his 92nd race during the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix, before going on to raise his tally to 105 wins, with his last win coming in the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix.
Final Race Classification (Top 10):
1. #2: Felipe Massa (Ferrari, Brazil) 1:43:11.435
2. #5: Fernando Alonso (Renault, Spain) +13. 298
3. #1: Kimi Räikönnen (Ferrari, Finland) +16. 235
4. #15: Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso, Germany) +38. 011
5. #22: Lewis Hamilton (Mclaren-Mercedes, UK) +38. 907
6. #12: Timo Glock (Toyota, Germany) +44. 368
7. #23: Heikki Kovalainen (Mclaren-Mercedes, Finland) +55. 074
8. #11: Jarno Trulli (Toyota, Italy) +1:08. 433
9. #10: Mark Webber (Red Bull, Australia) +1:19. 666
10. #3: Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber, Germany) +1 laps
Bold indicates drivers who made the podium
Gold indicates the driver won the Driver's Championship
Driver's Championship Standings:
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mclaren, UK) 98 points
2. Felipe Massa (Ferrari, Brazil) 97 points
3. Kimi Räikönnen (Ferrari, Finland) 75 points
4. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber, Poland) 75 points
5. Fernando Alonso (Renault, Spain) 61 points
Constructor's Championship Standings:
1. Ferrari (Italy) 172 points
2. Mclaren-Mercedes (UK) 151 points
3. BMW Sauber (Germany) 135 points
4. Renault (France) 80 points
5. Toyota (Japan) 56 points
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