| Thursday, 25 December 2008 | |
| Kimi Raikkonen has told Ferrari that he is ‘determined’ to make amends for his disappointing 2008 campaign as he eyes a second world title next year.The Finn endured a difficult season – primarily frustrated by his inability to get the best out of the F2008 in qualifying – and was forced to play a supporting role to teammate Felipe Massa in the closing stages of the year. … continue reading this entry. |
Kimi determined to fight back in 2009
Hamilton wins in China, Massa keeps title hopes alive
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton did everything but win the title in Shanghai on Sunday, as he scored his fifth victory of the season in a pluperfect style that l
eft championship rival Felipe Massa floundering in his wake.
The Brazilian ran third for much of the race, astern of Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen as they struggled vainly to keep the McLaren in sight. Then on lap 49 the Finn conceded second place, so that Massa left China with 87 points to Hamilton’s 94 – and with his admittedly fading championship aspirations still alive.
Raikkonen stayed clear of a closing Fernando Alonso, who pushed hard all the way through for Renault, and Nick Heidfeld led BMW Sauber team mate Robert Kubica home as the Pole saw his own title hopes die. His three points leave him on 75, too far behind Hamilton.
Penalties put Hamilton and Massa out of contention at Fuji
The two main rivals for the 2008 drivers’ title scored just one point between them in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, as both were hit by pena
lties early in the race. Ferrari’s Felipe Massa finished eighth, while championship leader Lewis Hamilton managed only 12th for McLaren.
The world champion 2007 Formula One Drivers’
The 2007 Formula One season was the 58th FIA Formula One World Championship season. It began on 18 March and ended on 21 October after seventeen Grands Prix. The Drivers’ Championship was won by Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen by one point at the final race of the season, making Räikkönen the third Finnish driver to take the title.
An appeal by McLaren regarding the
legality of some cars in the final race could have altered the championship standings, but on 16 November, the appeal was
reportedly rejected by the International Court of Appeal, confirming the championship results.Räikkönen entered the final
race in third position in the drivers’ standings, but emerged as champion after the chequered flag, a feat that had been
accomplished only by Giuseppe Farina in 1950.
Race at Fuji Speedway 2008
Alonso makes it two wins in a row in Japan
Nobody expected Fernando Alonso to win in Singapore – and for sure the chances of a repeat in Fuji seemed minimal, but the Spaniard took advantage of a chaotic start, passed early leader Robert Kubica in the first pit stops, and was never thereafter threatened.
