Hamilton vs Massa 2008: the title on the last corner
One of the most dramatic championship endings in history. Hamilton won the title with one lap to go in Brazil.
The simulation's verdict
Lewis Hamilton would have won the 2008 title in 100% of the 200 simulations.
Lewis Hamilton
Felipe Massa
Who finished ahead
Based on 200 simulations of the 2008 season. Numbers can vary each time you play.
Historical context
Brazil 2008: Massa led the race and the championship. With one lap to go, Hamilton was 5th and needed 5th. A slower car let him through at the last moment. The Brit won his first title by one point. Simulate this rivalry to see if the outcome would have been different.
The real 2008 season
The 2008 season produced the most dramatic finish in memory. The championship between Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Felipe Massa (Ferrari) was decided on the last lap of the last race, at a soaking Interlagos. Massa did everything he could: he won his home race and, for a few seconds, was world champion in front of his fans. But Hamilton needed to finish fifth and was running sixth on the final lap; at the penultimate corner, with the rain intensifying, he passed a Glock on the wrong tyres and grabbed the decisive point. Hamilton was thus crowned champion by a single point and became the youngest in history at the time, as well as the sport's first Black champion. The image of the Ferrari garage celebrating and collapsing within seconds was etched forever.
Real champion: Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren MP4-23. Last lap of Brazil: Hamilton passes Glock at the last corner. 1 point final difference. See the full 2008 season →
The drivers
Lewis Hamilton is the most decorated driver in history in wins and poles, and equals Schumacher with seven world titles. Raised in Stevenage and backed by McLaren from childhood, he burst onto the scene in 2007 with such force that he came within a single point of the championship in his rookie year. He made amends in 2008, clinching his first title on the final corner of the last race in Brazil, snatching it from Felipe Massa metres from the line. Full profile →
Felipe Massa lived through one of the cruellest episodes in the sport's history: he was world champion for about thirty seconds. The Brazilian from São Paulo had earned his status as Ferrari leader, first alongside Schumacher and then with Räikkönen, with notable qualifying speed and great performances at his beloved Interlagos. In 2008 he delivered the best season of his life, with six wins, and reached the final race at home fighting for the title with Hamilton. Full profile →
How it's simulated
The engine recreates qualifying (Q1, Q2, Q3) and every Grand Prix with the ~20 real drivers of 2008, weighing each car's performance, driver skill, weather, safety cars and tyre wear. Learn how the simulator works →
Season
2008
Mode
Free duel
Tags
Choose driver, car and season. The engine simulates the full championship with real drivers.