Massa becomes the 2008 world champion… for 39 seconds

The 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix is recognised as one of the most thrilling championship deciders in Formula One history. In an astonishing season closer, Massa became the 2008 world champion for 39 seconds, before Hamilton snatched Massa’s title dreams.

In a powerful Ferrari, Massa won 6 of the 19 races over the 2008 season, with 10 podium finishes. Hamilton only on his second season of F1, fought for the championship with McLaren, winning 5 races that season.

After a long season, it all came down to the championship decider in Brazil. What would be a fairy tale race for Massa, winning in front of home fans at his home race, becoming the first Brazilian champion since Ayrton Senna in 1991. All Massa had to do to was win the race and hope for Hamilton to finish below 5th.

In qualifying, Massa put his Ferrari on pole, with Hamilton starting the race from 4th. the weather provided the drama in a thrilling race, with the weather conditions changing throughout the race, starting dry and changing to wet. Massa kept his cool under the difficult conditions, leading from the start and pitting at the right opportunities. With half a race to go the rain had disappeared. Massa was now leading the race while Hamilton was running in 5th.

Only 5 laps to go and the rain made its comeback. Massa and Hamilton both pit, going on to a set of wet tyres, Toyota drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock staying out on their dry tyres. As Hamilton re-joins the track, he is held back in P7, the two Toyotas ahead of him blocking the way. With better grip on his new set of tyres, Hamilton takes advantage of the vulnerable Toyota of Trulli ahead of him, overtaking the Toyota driver to move into P6. This still wasn’t enough for Hamilton’s championship dreams.

With half a lap to go for Hamilton, Massa had already won the race becoming the world champion in a fairy tale finish to the season… or so he thought.

It all came down to the last corner of the last lap, Timo Glock’s tyres prove to be an issue as he continues to race on a wet track on dry tyres, Glock struggling to keep his cool on a wet track made a mistake, leaving the door wide open for Hamilton to make the crucial move in order to become the world champion.

Hamilton seizes the opportunity, overtaking Glock as he rounds the final corner, coming home to finish in 5th, snatching the title from Massa. Hamilton winning his first world championship in an action packed ending, while Massa’s fairy tale dream only lasted 39 seconds.