Lewis Hamilton is the 2008 Formula 1 World Champion. In a dramatic Brazilian Grand Prix with rain before the start and rain short before the finish, Lewis decided the title battle at the last corner of the 71-lap race, when he overtook Timo Glock to secure fifth place which was enough to win the title.

At the age of 23 years, nine months and 26 days, Lewis is the youngest champion in Formula 1 history. It is the third drivers’ title for the McLaren Mercedes partnership after Mika Hà¤kkinen winning the championship in 1998 and 1999. Lewis won the title with 98 points ahead of Felipe Massa (97 points) who won his home race. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes finished the Constructors’ Championship runner-up on 151 points behind Ferrari on 172 points.

Race details after the break.

Lewis Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai and will now head into the seasonal finale in Brazil at Sao Paulo in two weeks with a seven-point advantage over Felipe Massa, his sole challenger for the world title who finished second yesterday.

Starting from his seventh pole position of the year, Lewis set the fastest lap of race and won with a gap of 14.9sec over Massa. Lewis led 53 of the 56 laps (305.066 km), Heikki Kovalainen led the other three laps but retired on lap 50 due to a problem with the air consumption of the pneumatic valve control system. Lewis now leads the overall rankings with 94 points, Massa is second on 87. Heikki is seventh on 51 points. After 17 out of 18 Grands Prix, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes remains second in the constructors’ championship with 145 points; Ferrari leads with 156 points.

Race details after the break.

Lewis Hamilton finished the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji in 12th place; he was pushed into a spin by title contender Felipe Massa (Ferrari) on lap two and dropped to the back of the field. A subsequent drive-through penalty – for a first-corner incident – left him unable to challenge for a points finish. Heikki Kovalainen retired from third place due to an engine failure on lap 17. At the top of the drivers’ championship, today’s result does little to change the overall standings: Lewis still leads with 84 points, five ahead of Felipe who finished seventh to collect two points. Heikki is sixth with 51 points. The race (67 laps/305.416km) was won by Fernando Alonso (Renault). After 16 out of 18 Grands Prix, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes lies second in the constructors’

The race highlights and comments after the break.