Formula 1 News

2008 Brazilian Grand Prix: formation lap postponed due to heavy rain 

As expected by Formula One’s official weather forecast, heavy rain has fallen at the Interlagos circuit exactly before the formation lap. The stewards have consequently aborted and postponed the formation lap in order to allow to the teams to change their tyres. It remains still unclear if the race will start under the Safety Car despite the rain has stopped almost immediately and the forecast has predicted no rain for the first 30 minutes.

Update 1: Both Hamilton and Massa will start the race with the intermediate rain Bridgestone tyres.

Update 2: Race will start without the Safety Car.

Update 3: At race start, Massa keeps his position along with Trulli, Raikkonen and Hamilton. A collision between David Coulthard (out) and Kazuki Nakajima, brings the Safety Car on track.

Update 4: Lap 64 of 71, Massa keeps P1, Hamilton P4. Raikkonen (P3) aggressive on Trulli (P2). With these positions, Hamilton wins the title.

Update 5:  Lap 61 of 71, Pit stop for tyre change for Massa and Kovalainen.

Update 6: Lap 60 of 71, Hamilton, Trulli and Raikkonen pit for tyre change. Raikkonen gains a position to Trulli. Hamilton gets back in P7, Massa P1.

Update 7: Lap 58 of 71, Massa P1, Vettel P2, Alonso P3, Hamilton P6.

Update 8: Lap 54 of 71, Hamilton passes Fisichella. Hamilton is now in P5 and keeps the lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

Update 9: Lap 52 of 71, Drivers’ Championship prediction: Hamilton 98 points, Massa 97.

Update 10: Lap 48 of 71, Massa, Vettel, Alonso, Raikkonen, Hamilton.

Update 11: Lap 44 of 71, Pit stop for Vettel, Alonso P2, Raikkonen P3, Hamilton P4.

Update 12: Lap 34 of 71, Massa P1, Alonso P2, Raikkonen P3, Hamilton P4, Vettel P5. Hamilton keeps the lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

Update 13: Lap 33 of 71, Pit stop for Massa, back in P4. Alonso P1, Hamilton P3.

Update 14: Lap 31 of 71, Pit stop for Alonso and Hamilton. Hamilton P6, Massa P2, Vettel P3.

Update 15: Lap 26 of 71. Drivers’ Championship prediction: Hamilton 98 points, Massa 97.

Update 16: Lap 19 of 71, Massa P1, Alonso P2, Raikkonen P3, Hamilton P4, Vettel P5.

Update 17: Lap 15 of 71, Vettel P5 gaining seconds on Hamilton P4.

Update 18:  Lap 10 of 71, Massa P1, Alonso P2, Raikkonen P3, Hamilton P4, Vettel P5.

Update 19: Lap 6 of 71, as light rain has started to fall, Nick Heidfeld has pitted for a tyre change.

Update 20: Lap 5 of 71, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Vettel pit for tyres (intermediate rain)

Update 21:  Lap 4 of 71, Massa pits.

Update 22: Lap 3 of 71, Massa, Alonso, Raikkonen, Glock Hamilton: two laps to go. Vettel passe Hamilton, Hamilton P6.

Update 23: LAST LAP: Massa P1, Hamilton P6. Massa wins the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton passes Timo Glock on the last corner and gains P5. Lewis Hamilton is the 2008 Formula One World Champion.