When: 2 November, 2008
Where: Sao Paulo, Brazil

It was to be one of the tightest finales in F1 history; Lewis Hamilton was sitting in sixth position knowing that Felipe Massa had just won the season ending race, in front of his home fans in Interlagos. Massa had done all he could and could only watch and wait to see if Hamilton was to scupper his chances of being crowned F1 champion.

It looked as though Hamilton was going to be disappointed for a second year, on the same track on which he fell at the final hurdle in the previous year. However, as Timo Glock slipped from fourth position, due to Toyota’s decision not to call him in to take on wet tyres, Hamilton’s fortune instantly changed. Hamilton passed Glock one kilometer from the finish line of the Brazilian Grand Prix, on the penultimate corner, to claim fifth place. This was enough for him to secure the Championship and become the youngest F1 Champion in history. The previous record-holder was two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Renault, who was 24 years, one month and 27 days old when he won the Championship in 2005. Hamilton was 23 years, nine months and 26 days old when he crossed the finish line in Brazil.

Aside from this, Hamilton had also just become the first black champion. This was made considerably more important after Hamilton received a great deal of racial abuse from crowds in Barcelona earlier in the year. ‘Fans’ with blacked-out faces taunted Hamilton, wearing t-shirts with the words ‘Hamilton’s family’ written on them. As Hamilton and Button prepare to race alongside each other next season, we look forward to seeing if Hamilton can be victorious for a second time.