Brazilian Grand Prix Race Review: Hamilton Champion

This was more than anyone could have asked for in the final race of the season and one that decided the F1 championship. It was analyzed and scrutinized almost as much as the upcoming US election and it lived up to everything it should be. In the mix was a little rain and drivers not in the hunt for the title driving for their own championship.

Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton the 2008 F1 champion. A guy who doesn’t know the easy way to do things in Brazil, but managed to get it done this year.

About 10 minutes before the parade lap the skies opened up in a downpour that no one seemed to expect considering the very threatening black cloud above them. The race was delayed another 10 minutes to let the rain stop and for teams to rethink their tire selections.

Not all of the circuit received the rain leaving the back half pretty dry with the rest very very wet. Because of the very wet section of the circuit the choice of tires was intermediate and most teams chose just that. Robert Kubica starting in 13th was left on dry tires in a gamble to gain a couple of positions in the dry areas. After the parade lap, into the pits for him to put on intermediates. I covered this questionable move in One of the Poorest Races for BMW Sauber.

The best scenario for Massa was to win the race and leave the rest up to Lewis Hamilton to finish in the top 5 to win the championship. Massa had pole and makes a habit of winning from there so Hamilton’s game had to be to play it safe and remain in the top 5 throughout the race. With Hamilton however, this often proves a little difficult to do. At times he has let his emotions get the better of him and ends up doing what he wants to do rather than what he should do.

The other important story to this race was that it was David Coulthard’s final race of his career. His car decked out in a different livery and his chance to go out in style just didn’t develop. Coulthard’s luck on the first lap of a grand prix isn’t that great and sadly bad luck followed him here. He was hit from behind by Nico Rosberg, spun and was hit again by Kazuki Nakajima who was trying to avoid him. Race over before lap 1 was finished. It is very unfortunate that David’s send off happened this way and that it was very much overshadowed by the battle between Hamilton and Massa. Thanks for a great 15 years and with the guts to step into Ayrton Senna’s Williams.

It didn’t take long for the track to dry out and everyone to settle down. Massa remained out front driving a perfect race and Hamilton kept himself inside the top 5 driving his perfect championship winning race.

It was at lap 66 that things began to dramatically change for Hamilton. The rain came again and started as a light rain. No one knew if this would turn out to be a heavy shower or how long it would last and just one look into the garages of Hamilton and Massa you could feel the tension.

On lap 67 Hamilton and Vettel (4th and 5th) pit together for intermediate tires. Glock stays out on dry tires and when Hamilton and Vettel return to the track Glock has moved ahead putting Hamilton in 5th and Vettel who has been hounding Hamilton into 6th. On the final lap, Vettel passed Hamilton when Hamilton ran wide leaving him in 6th and Massa winning the championship. Wait, not so fast. Massa crosses the line winning the race and at this point the championship with Hamilton and Vettel still with under a half a lap left.

Hamilton simply has nothing to give to catch Vettel, but Glock has slowed very dramatically and both drivers pass him with 3 turns left putting Hamilton into 5th where he crossed the line winning the championship.

It was a terrific race and you couldn’t have asked for more including the conspiracy theory surrounding Timo Glock. I have to say that watching live timing, the 20 second slower final lap for Glock compared to any of his previous laps looked pretty suspect. The track surface wasn’t that bad at the time and no other driver posted times even remotely close to that at the start of the race.

I’m not a conspiracy theorist by any stretch of the imagination, and the fact that Glock isn’t a Hamilton admirer, I find it questionable but stop short of saying he gave the championship to Lewis.

Again, it was a great race to watch and there really are 2 winners here. Both Hamilton and Massa deserve the championship and how many years have we been able to say that.