- 29 Sep 09, 21:25#158570
Its still hard to believe that Lewis Hamilton won the 2008 champion during the last corner of the last lap of the last race. An incredible moment the world of F1 will no doubt remember for centuries to come. At time, no one was really sure what to say. Many un-surely claimed it to have been the closest end to an F1 championship ever.
I've wondered myself for a while, whether or not a championship has ever before gone down to very last lap, and indeed it has. 1964
The final GP of the season took place at Mexico city with 3 british drivers contesting for the championship. Graham Hill on 39pts, John Surtee's 34pts, and Jim Clark 30pts. With Clark starting on pole posistion for the 5th time that season.
Hill got off to poor start after a collision with Surtee's Ferrari team-mate Lorenzo Bandini. Jim Clark led the race from pole position. As the race was drawing to a close, Clark led, with Dan Gurney in 2nd, Bandini in 3rd, and Surtee's in 4th. Graham Hill was 2 laps down and well out of the points. This meant that Clark and Hill would tie on 39 points, with Clark becoming away the surprise champion on account of the fact he had more victories. But then starting the last lap, Clarks unreliable Lotus retired yet again with an oil leak. Ferrari quickly signalled Badini to let his team-mate surtee's through. Dan Gurney went on to win the race, with Surtee's in 2nd doing enough to take his one and only world championship by 1 point from Graham Hill.
Just like in 2008, it all came down to a matter of a single point.
I've wondered myself for a while, whether or not a championship has ever before gone down to very last lap, and indeed it has. 1964
The final GP of the season took place at Mexico city with 3 british drivers contesting for the championship. Graham Hill on 39pts, John Surtee's 34pts, and Jim Clark 30pts. With Clark starting on pole posistion for the 5th time that season.
Hill got off to poor start after a collision with Surtee's Ferrari team-mate Lorenzo Bandini. Jim Clark led the race from pole position. As the race was drawing to a close, Clark led, with Dan Gurney in 2nd, Bandini in 3rd, and Surtee's in 4th. Graham Hill was 2 laps down and well out of the points. This meant that Clark and Hill would tie on 39 points, with Clark becoming away the surprise champion on account of the fact he had more victories. But then starting the last lap, Clarks unreliable Lotus retired yet again with an oil leak. Ferrari quickly signalled Badini to let his team-mate surtee's through. Dan Gurney went on to win the race, with Surtee's in 2nd doing enough to take his one and only world championship by 1 point from Graham Hill.
Just like in 2008, it all came down to a matter of a single point.
