Kimi Raikkonen - 2007 F1 World Champion

This was how it looked:

Lewis Hamilton: 107 points
Fernando Alonso: 103 points
Kimi Raikkonen - 100 points

Hamilton was favourite to clinch the championship today but with odds stacked against him, Kimi Raikkonen did all that could have been asked of him and won the Brazilian GP. Still, he needed other results to go his way, for him to win his 1st drivers' championship in Formula 1.

It started with his teammate, Massa on pole with Hamilton and Kimi behind. Kimi overtook Hamilton at the start and patiently drove a well-paced race behind Massa. Meanwhile Alonso and Hamilton were fighting it out for 3rd place but Hamilton attempted an unlikely manoeuvre and suffered the consequence of being knocked off the track. He never recovered and his fans must have had their hearts in their mouth when he appeared to slow down but seconds later, appeared to be in full throttle yet again. As we learned later, it was a hydraulic problem but it managed to switch to a backup system.

Spare a thought for Hamilton: here's a man in his rookie season performing beyond expectations. Sure he's never suffered the ill-luck as his teammate, Alonso or Raikkonen but he's done everything in his control. That he and his team made a few mistakes in the last 2 races shouldn't detract from his memorable season.

Ferrari couldn't have choreographed it better. With Kimi behind Massa up and until the second and final round of pitstops, no-one could have accused them of team orders which hounded them in 2002. Massa played his supporting part to perfection and was a critical pawn in Kimi's title run.

For Kimi, who has often been the bridesmaid with Mclaren in 2003 and 2005, this was a dream result for him. There was a time in the season when he seemed out of contention ; 26 points behind Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' championship. Credit should be given to the ice-cool Finn who has finally had luck on his side. No-one can begrudge him this title as he was made to work hard for it and must have taken some mental strength to come from behind when everything was stacked against him. It's rather ironic that he came from Mclaren and replaced Michael Schumacher, a 7-time champion at Ferrari, and has won the title. Maybe poetic justice, maybe reward for 5 years of waiting.

Formula 1 fans have been treated this season. You can't ask for more when you have 3 contenders going into the final race and waiting till the last lap for the Champion to be crowned. 1 point separating 3 drivers demonstrates how close it really was!

You wait for such moments in sport when the underdog has performed a coup leaving the favourites humbled. It happened today and Ferrari fans are celebrating! A certain Michael Schumacher is beaming in his living room as well.



How it finished:

Kimi Raikkonen: 110 points
Lewis Hamilton: 109 points
Fernando Alonso: 109 points



CONGRATS TO KIMI RAIKKONEN!