A dramatic ending to the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship: Massa vs Hamilton

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November 2, 2008: Too early to be happy! At the season finale in Brazil, 90,000 fans celebrated local hero Felipe Massa as the new world champion. Then Lewis Hamilton began one of the greatest comebacks in Formula One history.

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It's heartbreaking just to look at it: the Ferrari pits are filled with joy! Father Luiz Antonio Massa, fresh out of surgery for kidney stones, was brazenly celebrating his son Felipe's world title with his family at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Outside the José Carlos Pace Circuit, the 90,000 Brazilians were also completely stunned: local hero Massa crossed the finish line 13 seconds ahead of Fernando Alonso, while rival Lewis Hamilton was only sixth. Crossing the finish line – it finally happened 17 years later. Ayrton Senna was once again good enough to win his countryman his first championship.

But it didn't do that. A Ferrari mechanic brutally brought Massa's family back to reality: “No, no! It's not over yet!” The team watched in shock as Lewis Hamilton piloted the Silver Arrow to complete the greatest comeback in Formula One history one.

Uncertain weather changes game drastically

The drama started right from the start: at the scheduled start time, a torrential downpour fell on the track. The season showdown was ten minutes late, and the strategist's plans were completely derailed by the capricious weather.

Massa was soon out of pole position and had a lonely race at the front. For Hamilton, who started the final with a seven-point lead in fourth place, fifth place was definitely enough to win the championship. The Brits raced on dry tracks in a correspondingly conservative and risk-averse manner.

Uncertain weather dominated the season finale of the Brazilian Grand Prix.Image: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

As a result, Hamilton in the McLaren-Mercedes appears to be safely on track for the title in fourth place. Then, as it rains, the drama begins again. Twenty minutes before the end of the race, a heavy downpour forced all drivers to make a final unscheduled pit stop. Only German Timo Glock from Toyota gave up on wet tires and instead rushed from seventh to fourth. Hamilton dropped back to fifth, unable to afford anything more.

Disaster struck for Hamilton in the form of Sebastian Vettel. Two laps before the end of the race, the German had pushed the World Championship leader down to sixth place – and now Massa was in the lead! Will the story of last year repeat itself here? Even then, Hamilton had already lost the tire poker championship in Brazil. The Briton reported the shocking moment: “When Vettel passed me, I lost my nerve for a moment.”

Glock's failed poker move makes Hamilton champion

Hamilton trailed Massa, Alonso, Raikkonen, Glock and Vettel entering the final 1,200 meters. Then Glock decided at the last second not to use wet tires, which proved to be their undoing. He could barely control his car on the slippery track. While Massa's camp was already celebrating in the pits, McLaren-Mercedes encouraged Hamilton to give his best over the radio: “Glock is slowing down, you can still catch him!”

In fact: with 400 meters to go, the Briton overtook the Glock and moved back into fifth place. Massa was defeated. Hamilton won the championship with a score of 98 points and 97 points. At only 23 years, 9 months and 26 days old, he is the youngest world champion to date.

Felipe Massa on the podium: despite the victory, he fought back tears.Image source: Associated Press

Hamilton, draped in a Union Jack flag, couldn't believe his victory: “I'm just speechless. I'm so proud of everyone who made this happen for me. This was the toughest race of my life.”

On the podium, “champion” Massa burst into tears. Even his family, who celebrated too early, had a hard time recovering from this heavy blow.

World champion Lewis Hamilton celebrates with girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger after drama at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Image: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Not so with Nicole Scherzinger: the former lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls danced in the pits and jubilantly celebrated her then world champion boyfriend: “Lewis got it from God to make this happen All the strength I just screamed: Go, baby!”