2007: Raikkonen secures the title, and goodbye traction control #OnThisDay 21 October, Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen clinched his first and only Drivers’ Championship at Interlagos by a single point, beating both the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in a dramatic season finale. F1 rookie, Hamilton entered the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix leading the championship, with the title within his grasp. However, a poor start saw him fall to fourth, with the Ferraris and his teammate Alonso getting ahead. In an attempt to overtake Alonso around the outside, Hamilton ran off the track and rejoined in eighth. Things worsened when his McLaren briefly lost power, dropping him to 18th. Though Hamilton fought back to finish seventh, it wasn’t enough, as Raikkonen won the race and the title. “This is my first year, I’ll come back stronger. I’ve learned a lot, and the mistakes I made won’t happen again next year,” Hamilton vowed. True to his word, he returned in 2008 to claim the championship in even more dramatic fashion. Raikkonen’s teammate, Felipe Massa, finished second for a Ferrari 1-2 finish, with Alonso in third. The race also saw the last time cars with traction control were allowed and the final race for Ralf Schumacher who finished in 11th place for Toyota. #f1 #formula1