Lewis Hamilton is the new Formula 1 world Champion, and he became champion in one of the most dramatic finishes ever.
He had ran most of the race in a controlled and conservative way, laying fourth or fifth for most of the race. Fifth was the minimum result he needed, which would make him champion no matter what result his only rival, Fillipe Massa, achieved.
In the closing stages of the race, the safety of his position evaporated wih the combination of Sebastian Vettel, another highly rated young driver, making large gains to threaten his fourth place, and a threat of rain become a reality six laps from the end of the race.
Within two laps of the rain starting, the leading six drivers, including Massa, Hamilton and Vettel, all pitted to change to wet weather tires. As they returned to the track, Timo GLock, who had not pitted, found himself elevated to fourth place, Hamilton was still fifth but with Vettel right behind him.
On the penultimate lap, Vettel passed Hamilton, seemingly handing the Championship to Massa. As the last lap started, Massa looked comfortable in first place, and with Hamilton in sixth, likely to be Champion. However, Glock was finding his car more than a handful, having gambled on staying on dry weather tires, and literally at the last corner, after Massa had already crossed the finish line to win the race, both Vettel and Hamilton managed to pass the wayward car of Glock, elevating Hamiton back to fifth place and the four points that he needed to clinch the Crown.
