THE CHAMP

Heading into the season-ending Grand Prix of Brazil, Kimi Raikkonen knew he needed the performance of his lifetime and a little luck to claim the World Driving championship.
He got both.
Raikkonen dominated action on the track en route to his series-leading sixth triumph of the season. And when Lewis Hamilton struggled to a seventh-place finish, Raikkonen, who won the first and last races of the season, had his first World Championship by a single point over Hamilton and two-time defending champion Fernando Alonso.
It was Raikkonen’s first season driving for Ferrari, and he claimed the title for the first time after having nearly won it in 2003 and 2005 while driving for McLaren.
“I have achieved what I have been after for a long time,” the Finnish driver said. “Now everything else will be an extra. This has been a very nice year for me, during which I have enjoyed F-1 like never before.
“In Ferrari, I have found a great family and I am proud to have won the title with them.”

MOMENTOUS OCCASIONS

SPY SCANDAL: What will go down in history as Spy-Gate dominated the news during the second half of the Formula One season, and resulted in Team McLaren being fined a record $100 million by the FIA. McLaren, which was accused of acquiring secret data from its main rival, Ferrari, was also stripped of all constructor’s championship points. Previously, the largest fine levied by FIA was $5 million.
BREAK THROUGH: The first black driver in the history of Formula One, Lewis Hamilton (right) won the Canadian Grand Prix in just his sixth F-1 race. The 22-year-old British driver went on to win four races and finish second in the standings.
BACK IN THE U.S.A.: American Formula One driver Scott Speed was released from his contract with Scuderia Toro Rosso after just 10 races. Speed, who drove the full 2006 season for the team, was replaced by Sebastian Vettel. By the end of the year, Speed was signed to drive the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX stock-car series.
SKIPPING OUT: After eight seasons at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there won’t be a United States Grand Prix in 2008. IMS President Tony George and Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone failed to reach an agreement for an event in 2008 but left the door open for a return in 2009. “Let’s see if we miss America,” Ecclestone said.
NO HARMONY: When Lewis Hamilton was assigned to the second seat with Team McLaren, the world expected him to play second fiddle to two-time defending World Champion Fernando Alonso. Alonso expected that, too. But after Hamilton won consecutive races during the North American swing, the relationship between the two drivers went downhill fast. By the end of the season, it seemed a given that Alonso would not be back at McLaren by the time the 2008 season kicked off and Hamilton was the sport’s newest star.
WILD TUMBLE: Robert Kubica missed the U.S. Grand Prix after a wild accident during the Canadian Grand Prix. He suffered a mild concussion and a sprained right ankle.

ON THE RECORD

“I think the more and more you get to know someone, you get to really see what they’re like deep inside, and whether you can trust them or not, and I won’t say anymore.” — Lewis Hamilton regarding his relationship with McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso

“I just felt someone, somewhere, didn’t want me to win the title.” — Hamilton after losing title

“Instead of complaining, moaning and bitching, which is what (Fernando) Alonso is doing at the moment, all he needs to do is concentrate on driving quicker.” — Three-time World champion Nika Lauda

“I’m happy. It was an amazing day.” — Kimi Raikkonen after winning the title

“I’m not a playboy. I haven’t gone out and bought lots of expensive cars. I’m not dating all these women. If I was, then play fair and write stuff about me. But I’m just trying to lead a normal life.” — Hamilton

“I’m on another planet after this. I simply can’t find the words to describe what it feels like to win my first F-1 race.” — Hamilton

“When I got out of the car I was obviously gutted for both myself and the team. I haven’t made mistakes all year.” — Hamilton after the GP of China
“As far as F-1 is concerned, you couldn’t pay me enough money to race for those two people again.”  — Scott Speed

“I’ve got the number two on my car. I am the number-two driver.”— Hamilton after the fifth race of the Formula One season

LOOKING AHEAD

• There are 18 races on the 2008 Formula One calendar, including a pair of events in Spain. There will be no U.S. Grand Prix for the first time in nine years. The season opens in Australia March 16 and concludes in Brazil Nov. 2.
• Four-time defending Champ Car World Series driver Sebastien Bourdais will try his hand at Formula One, racing for the Scuderia Toro Rosso team.
• Two-time series champion Fernando Alonso will return to Renault.
• Will there be any ramifications from Spy-Gate that will affect how teams plan for the 2008 season?

STAT PACK

0      Number of Grands Prix won by a car other than McLaren or Ferrrari

1      Points separating first and third in the World Driving Championship standings

TOP 10

    Driver    Points    Wins    Top 5    Top 10    Poles
    1. Kimi Raikkonen    110    6    14    15    3
    2. Lewis Hamilton    109    4    14    16    6
    3. Fernando Alonso    109    4    14    16    2
    4. Felipe Massa    94    3    12    14    6
    5. Nick Heidfeld    61    0    9    14    0
    6. Robert Kubica    39    0    7    12    0
    7. Heikki Kovalainen    30    0    3    14    0
    8. Giancarlo Fisichella    21    0    3    11    0
    9. Nico Rosberg    20    0    1    10    0
    10. David Coulthard    14    0    3    6    0

WHO, WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE

    Date    Track    Winner    Car        Laps
    March 18    Melbourne (Australia)    Kimi Raikkonen    Ferrari             58
    April 8    Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)    Fernando Alonso    McLaren-Mercedes         56
    April 15    Bahrain Int’l Circuit (Bahrain)    Felipe Massa    Ferrari         57
    May 13    Catalunya Circuit (Spain)    Felipe Massa    Ferrari         65
    May 27    Circuit de Monte Carlo (Monaco)    Fernando Alonso    McLaren-Mercedes         78
    June 10    Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Canada)    Lewis Hamilton    McLaren-Mercedes         70
    June 17    Indianapolis Motor Speedway (U.S.)    Lewis Hamilton    McLaren-Mercedes         73
    July 1    Circuit de nevers Magny-Cours (France)    Kimi Raikkonen    Ferrari         70
    July 8    Silverstone Circuit (Great Britain)    Kimi Raikkonen    Ferrari         59
    July 22    Nurburgring (Europe)    Fernando Alonso    McLaren-Mercedes         60
    Aug. 5    Budapest (Hungary)    Lewis Hamilton    McLaren-Mercedes         70
    Aug. 26    Istanbul (Turkey)    Felipe Massa    Ferrari         58
    Sept. 9    Monza (Italy)    Fernando Alonso    McLaren-Mercedes         53
    Sept. 16    Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)    Kimi Raikkonen    Ferrari         44
    Sept. 30    Fuji Speedway (Japan)    Lewis Hamilton    McLaren-Mercedes         67   
    Oct. 7    Shanghai Int’l Circuit (China)    Kimi Raikkonen    Ferrari         56
    Oct. 21    Sao Paulo (Brazil)    Kimi Rakkonen    Ferrari          71