How it unfolded
Hamilton arrived at the finale seven points clear of home hero Massa; Massa could win and still lose if Hamilton finished fifth or better. Rain delayed the start by ten minutes; the track dried and then wet again with seven laps to go. Massa led from pole to flag and won. Behind him most runners switched to intermediates, but Timo Glock's Toyota stayed on dry tyres and rose to fourth. On the final lap Sebastian Vettel passed Hamilton for sixth — a position that would cost Hamilton the title. Massa crossed the line and Ferrari celebrated for nearly 40 seconds. On a wet surface Glock's slicks were effectively crawling; in the slow middle sector of the last lap Vettel and Hamilton passed him in succession. Hamilton finished fifth, champion 98-97 by a single point at 23 years and 300 days — the youngest champion then.
Why it still matters
The latest-decided championship in F1 history. The title changed hands on the last corner of the last lap — the only time that has happened — and Ferrari had already celebrated in the garage, which made the reversal cruel. The race made Hamilton a global name and marked the start of a career that would rewrite most of the sport's cumulative records over the next 17 years.