Raikkonen Rules the Roost

Kimi Raikkonen won the Brazilian Grand Prix, and with it, the 2007 WorldDriver's Championship> In a stunning turn of events, Raikkonen came through from third on the grid to beat his teammate Felipe Massa (who engineered his final pit stop so Kimi could win), and Fernando Alonso, driving what is likely to be his final race for McLaren.

And where was Lewis Hamilton, who came to Sao Paolo leading the championship? He finished a lowly 7th after first going off trying to hold off Alonso's charge through at the start, and then he suffered an electronic problem with his transmission that left him limping around hunting for gears. He drove an impressive race to come back through the field, but it was for naught. He finished 1 point adrift of Raikkonen, and tied at 109 with Alonso. Hamilton takes 2nd by virtue of having won more races than Fernando.

Remember, all Hamilton had to do was finish 4th, and no matter what anyone else did, he'd become the first rookie World Champion in he modern age of F1

It was a day that Raikkonen and his fans have long awaited. He's been considered the fastest driver in F1 for the past 3 seasons, but hasn't had a ride that could go the distance. He was robbed of a likely title in 2005, when the McLaren was easily the fastest car on the grid, but the Mercedes engines had a nasty habit of grenading within sight of the finish. Not so this year, as he overcame some uncharacteristic fragility in his Ferrari to win the Championship.

As for the race, Nico Rosberg finished 4th for Williams in what had to be seen as a chance to impress Ron Dennis in case Fernando Alonso leaves, as we all expect he will. Nico was followed by Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld in the resurgent BMW-Saubers. They have come on strong this season, and must be seen a a force for 2008.

As for the rest, Honda's whole season could be summed up by the fact that Super Best Friends again beat the factory Hondas in what has been a disastrous season. In fact, "disaster" almost seems too kind. For Honda, one of the most storied names in F1, this season has been a complete, utter, and total failure. There is not one good thing to be said about it.

So Kimi Raikkonen is World Champion 2007, and the whole of the British Empire lies in ruins as Hamilton has failed to win a Championship that was all but guaranteed.