Lewis Hamilton won the 2008 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship by making a decisive final-corner pass at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Hamilton entered the finale at Interlagos seven points ahead of Ferrari’s Felipe Massa. Massa won the race, but Hamilton needed only fifth place to secure the title. Rain caused changing tyre and grip conditions, and Hamilton dropped to sixth with only a few laps remaining.
On the final lap, Hamilton passed Toyota’s Timo Glock at the final corner. The fifth-place finish gave him 98 points for the season, one more than Massa. Massa briefly appeared to be champion as he crossed the finish line first, but Hamilton’s overtake changed the outcome within seconds.
At 23 years and 300 days, Hamilton became the youngest Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion at that time. Sebastian Vettel later surpassed that age record in 2010.