Results of the 2008 Brazilian F1 Grand Prix.
"The most exciting F1 race ever", that's how some previous champions described the events that unfolded in Sao Paulo. And it all happened in the last two minutes of the race, as Massa crossed the line for the chequered flag, believing he had also won the Drivers' Championship.
And Lewis Hamilton probably thought as much too as he failed to repass Sebastian Vettel to gain a vital fifth place and hang onto his points lead. But a last minute tyre change for all the front runners first dealt him misfortune, then swung the other way as he passed a struggling Timo Glock meters from the line to secure the six points needed to become the youngest ever F1 champ.
With five laps to go and Massa out front to the delight of an nervous home crowd, it looked like Lewis had done enough to secure the necessary fifth, retaining the position mostly from the start and keeping out of trouble. But trouble found him as rain returned towards the end of the race - for the second time that afternoon.
Like all those ahead of him he dashed in for intermediate tyres, but emerged with Timo Glock ahead of him, who had opted to gamble with his slicks. Sebastian Vettel, who had been running second at one point as a result of early pit stop strategies, was breathing down the McLaren driver's neck in a competitive Torro Rosso.
And it all went wrong when they got tangled up with Robert Kubica who was a lap down but declined to give them space. Instead he overtook Vettel and Hamilton, who ran slightly wide in the confusion and allowed Vettel through. At that moment the championship was all but lost as he struggled to challenge the German over the remaining lap of the race.
But then he found himself within sights of Glock, who conceded two places in the last 100m as rain played havoc with his slick tyres. And the rest, they say, is history.
Meanwhile Fernando Alonso finished second to end his season on a high note and Kimi Raikkonen was a way back in third to help Ferrari to another Constructors' Championship. Sebastian Vettel, easily rookie of the season, took fourth ahead of Hamilton. Timo Glock, Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli picked up the last of the points.
The only really low point of the race was the retirement on Lap one of David Coulthard who failed to even race the final Grand Prix of his 247-race career, having had an altercation at the second corner. But Britain will be celebrating it's first champion in 12 years, as Hamilton finished on 98, a point ahead of Massa. Had they finished on equal points Massa would have been declared champion with more wins than Lewis. Raikkonen and Kubica finished equally on 75, giving the Finn the edge on wins, and Alonso stormed through to take fifth overall with his late season charge.
In the Constructors' Title Ferrari won clearly, on 172, 19 points clear of McLaren, with BMW-Sauber third on 135.
Brazilian Grand Prix result:
1. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari one hour 34 minutes 11.435 seconds
2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 13.298 seconds behind
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari +16.235
4. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari +38.011
5. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes +38.907
6. Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota +44.368
7. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes +55.074
8. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota +1:08.463
9. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault +1:19.666
10. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber one lap behind
11. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber one lap
12. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota one lap
13. Jenson Button (GB) Honda one lap
14. Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso-Ferrari one lap
15. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda one lap
16. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India-Ferrari two laps
17. Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams-Toyota two laps
18. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Force India-Ferrari two laps
R Nelson Piquet (Brz) Renault 0 laps completed
R David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault 0 laps