Sao Paulo, Brazil (Sports Network) - Felipe Massa did everything in his power to claim the Formula One World Championship by winning Sunday's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, but with a twist of luck and the slightest bit of margin, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton earned the 2008 Formula One World Championship with a fifth-place finish at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace at Interlagos.
Hamilton was on the verge of losing the title to Massa as he was running sixth on the final lap, but the McLaren driver passed Toyota's Timo Glock and grabbed the coveted fifth spot as he entered the last corner.
Hamilton, 23, becomes the youngest driver to win a World Championship in F1 history and the first Briton to take the title since Damon Hill in 1996. He also becomes the 30th different driver to win a title on the racing circuit.
Massa wins Brazilian GP, while Hamilton clinches F1 title....
Lewis Hamilton has had his Belgian Grand Prix victory overturned by the stewards, handing the win to title rival Felipe Massa, who finished second on the road.
Hamilton was given a 25-second penalty for cutting the Bus Stop chicane during his wheel-to-wheel battle for the lead with Kimi Raikkonen during the closing laps.
Although the McLaren driver appeared to lift off and was repassed by Raikkonen on the exit of the corner, the stewards ruled that he had gained an advantage by short-cutting the circuit.
"The stewards, having received a report from the race director and having met with the drivers and team managers involved, have...determine a breach of the regulations has been committed by the competitor and impose the penalty referred to," said an FIA statement.
Stewards strip Hamilton of Spa victory....
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has played down wild rumours suggesting that the Scuderia was about to swoop for a disgruntled Lewis Hamilton by claiming that current drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen both have 'long-term' deals at Maranello.
Domenicali was asked about the possibility of a revised line-up at Ferrari next season after reports surfaced claiming that Hamilton's father, Anthony, had been seen in deep - and evidently secret - discussions with the new Ferrari team chief at Hockenheim. Respected British newspaper The Times published a picture which it suggested was a clandestine conversation between the pair outside a Mercedes-Benz party at Hockenheim on the eve of this weekend's German Grand Prix, but Domenicali dismissed that it was anything more than a passing greeting.
"What was the story in the English newspaper? I do not know it," he questioned, "I was walking away from Norbert [Haug]'s party because I had other things to do with our sponsor. Anthony just came up behind me and said 'hello' and that's it, very easy. It's nice to see how these things can grow. Everyone has seen it, I think...."
Ferrari F1 boss denies secret Hamilton talks....
