2007 Brazilian Grand Prix

The 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix, officially the XXXVI Grande Prêmio do Brasil was the seventeenth and final race of the FIA Formula One World Championship, which took place at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo, Brazil, on 21 October 2007.'17. Brazil 2007', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil.aspx, (Accessed 21/02/2020)'Brazil 2007: Raikkonen shatters Hamilton's dream.', crash.net, (Crash Media Group, 22/10/2007), https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report/60381/1/brazil-2007-raikkonen-shatters-hamiltons-dream, (Accessed 21/02/2020) The race would see Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen fight for the title at the final race of the season, with just a point separating at the end of the race.
Hamilton had led the Championship battle arriving in São Paulo, the Brit leading teammate and defending Champion Alonso by four points. The third man in the hunt, 's Räikkönen, would have to overcome a seven point deficit to claim a maiden crown, and was viewed by many as the dark horse for the title.
However, all of the title protagonists would be beaten to pole position in qualifying, as Felipe Massa secure the top slot on the grid in front of his home fans. Hamilton duly claimed second ahead of Räikkönen with Alonso in fourth, while Mark Webber shared the third row with Nick Heidfeld.
The start of the race would see Räikkönen strike the first blow, the #6 Ferrari sprinting ahead of Hamilton to slot into second behind the sister car of Massa. Alonso then slithered inside the #2 McLaren to secure third, through Curve del Sol, before defending heavily into Reta Oposta from his teammate.
Hamilton took the bait and attacked, only to lock-up having moved to the outside of the circuit and ran wide. He subsequently dropped to eighth behind Webber, Heidfeld, Robert Kubica and Jarno Trulli, while Vitantonio Liuzzi lost his front wing as the midfield made room for the returning McLaren.
With Hamilton already having to make a comeback the two Ferraris broke away from Alonso, with Massa leading Räikkönen much to the delight of the home fans. Hamilton, meanwhile, would make early moves on Trulli and Heidfeld to move into sixth, before his first ever mechanical gremlin struck, leaving the Brit stuck in neutral and sliding down the order.
Thirty tense seconds later and Hamilton finally got going again, although he had slumped to the back of the field in eighteenth. Yet, the Brit quickly managed to get back up to speed, and by lap fifteen the #2 McLaren was up to eleventh with a move on Rubens Barrichello.
The first rounds of stops opened on lap twenty, with Massa leading the charge into the pits for those on two-stops. Räikkönen was in two laps later along with Alonso, Trulli, Sebastian Vettel and Hamilton, with Hamilton short-fuelling to try an ambitious three-stop, knowing that, as things stood, he would need fifth place to secure the title.
Hamilton again had to battle back into the top ten, only to be dumped back out again when he made his early second stop on lap 37. Up front, meanwhile, Massa would make an error at Descida do Lago prior to his stop, opening the door for Räikkönen to challenge for the lead, having trailed the Brazilian by three seconds throughout the second stint.
Ultimately the pass for the lead was made in the pitlane, with Räikkönen staying out three laps longer than the Brazilian and setting a succession of fastest laps to jump ahead. By this stage Kubica was in third ahead of Alonso, but yet to stop, while Hamilton was up to eighth, although that became ninth after he completed his third and final stop on lap 57.
The final stages of the race were tense, with Hamilton first moving past David Coulthard and then Trulli, although he trailed the three-way battle for fourth by some margin. Indeed, his only hope of getting into fifth would require Rosberg, Heidfeld and Kubica to trip over one-another, although when Rosberg's lunge carried himself and Heidfeld off a turn one, only Kubica was able to benefit.
With that the race was over, with Räikkönen and Massa lapping Hamilton en-route to securing a dominant one-two for Ferrari. Alonso completed the podium a distant third and hence slipped behind Räikkönen by a point, while Kubica, Rosberg and Heidfeld crossed the line a few moments later. Hamilton hence came across the line in seventh and lost the Championship by a point, and ergo left Räikkönen as Champion on 110 points to Alonso and Hamilton's 109.
One potential twist was investigated after the race however, after the scrutineers initially questioned the fuel used in the and cars.[Archived] 'McLaren appeal rejected', itv-f1.com, (ITV plc. 16/11/2007), https://web.archive.org/web/20071118134931/http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41307, (Accessed 20/02/2020) - Original This was ultimately thrown out by the officials after an investigation, although McLaren appealed, gaining a hearing on 16 November 2007. However, the FIA rejected their appeal and reaffirmed the provisional results.
==Background==
With Lewis Hamilton failing to finish for the first time in his fledgling career the title fight would go down to the season finale in Brazil, with three main protagonists in contention. Hamilton continued to lead the charge, with a four point advantage over Fernando Alonso, with the Spaniard needing to finish fourth or higher with Hamilton failing to score. The third man, and dark horse in the fight, was China racer winner Kimi Räikkönen, who would have to finish second or first in China, and see Hamilton finish sixth or lower.
In the Constructors Championship had added to their title winning tally once again, leaving China on 186 points at the head of the field. headed to the finale having already secured second, and were just six shy of the 100 point mark, while had claimed third with a round to spare on 51. Elsewhere, had picked up their first points of the campaign, moving them up to seventh from the foot of the table.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Fernando Alonso 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-22 	 	FO 108T 2.4 V8 	
2 	Lewis Hamilton 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-22 	 	FO 108T 2.4 V8 	
3 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	ING Renault F1 Team 	 	R27 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
4 	Heikki Kovalainen 	ING Renault F1 Team 	 	R27 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
5 	Felipe Massa 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2007 	 	056 2007 2.4 V8 	
6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2007 	 	056 2007 2.4 V8 	
7 	Jenson Button 	Honda Racing F1 Team 	 	RA107 	 	RA807E 2.4 V8 	
8 	Rubens Barrichello 	Honda Racing F1 Team 	 	RA107 	 	RA807E 2.4 V8 	
9 	Nick Heidfeld 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.07 	 	P86/7 2.4 V8 	
10 	Robert Kubica 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.07 	 	P86/7 2.4 V8 	
11 	Ralf Schumacher 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF107 	 	RVX-07 2.4 V8 	
12 	Jarno Trulli 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF107 	 	RVX-07 2.4 V8 	
14 	David Coulthard 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB3 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
15 	Mark Webber 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB3 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
16 	Nico Rosberg 	AT&T Williams 	 	FW29 	 	RVX-07 2.4 V8 	
17 	Kazuki Nakajima 	AT&T Williams 	 	FW29 	 	RVX-07 2.4 V8 	
18 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR2 	 	056 2006 2.4 V8 	
19 	Sebastian Vettel 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR2 	 	056 2006 2.4 V8 	
20 	Adrian Sutil 	Etihad Alder Spyker F1 Team 	 	F8-VII-B 	 	056 2006 2.4 V8 	
21 	Sakon Yamamoto 	Etihad Alder Spyker F1 Team 	 	F8-VII-B 	 	056 2006 2.4 V8 	
22 	Takuma Sato 	Super Aguri F1 Team 	 	SA07 	 	RA807E 2.4 V8 	
23 	Anthony Davidson 	Super Aguri F1 Team 	 	SA07 	 	RA807E 2.4 V8 	
Source:'Brazil 2007: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Q1===
===Q2===
===Q3===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Q1 	Q1 	 	Q2 	Q2 	 	Q3 	Q3 	Grid
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	Grid
1 	5 	Felipe Massa 	 	 	1 	1:12.303 	 	3 	1:12.374 	 	1 	1:11.931 	1
2 	2 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	 	4 	1:13.033 	 	2 	1:12.296 	 	2 	1:12.082 	2
3 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	 	3 	1:13.016 	 	1 	1:12.161 	 	3 	1:12.322 	3
4 	1 	Fernando Alonso 	 	 	2 	1:12.895 	 	4 	1:12.637 	 	4 	1:12.356 	4
5 	15 	Mark Webber 	 	 	5 	1:13.081 	 	6 	1:12.683 	 	5 	1:12.928 	5
6 	9 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	 	9 	1:13.472 	 	10 	1:12.888 	 	6 	1:13.081 	6
7 	10 	Robert Kubica 	 	 	6 	1:13.085 	 	5 	1:12.641 	 	7 	1:13.129 	7
8 	12 	Jarno Trulli 	 	 	8 	1:13.470 	 	8 	1:12.832 	 	8 	1:13.195 	8
9 	14 	David Coulthard 	 	 	7 	1:13.264 	 	9 	1:12.846 	 	9 	1:13.272 	9
10 	16 	Nico Rosberg 	 	 	13 	1:13.707 	 	7 	1:12.752 	 	10 	1:13.477 	10
11 	8 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	 	12 	1:13.661 	 	11 	1:12.932 	 	 	 	11
12 	3 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	 	10 	1:13.482 	 	12 	1:12.968 	 	 	 	12
13 	19 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	 	15 	1:13.853 	 	13 	1:13.058 	 	 	 	13
14 	18 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	 	 	11 	1:13.607 	 	14 	1:13.251 	 	 	 	14
15 	11 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	 	14 	1:13.767 	 	15 	1:13.315 	 	 	 	15
16 	7 	Jenson Button 	 	 	16 	1:14.054 	 	16 	1:13.469 	 	 	 	16
17 	4 	Heikki Kovalainen 	 	 	17 	1:14.078 	 	 	 	 	 	 	17
18 	22 	Takuma Sato 	 	 	18 	1:14.098 	 	 	 	 	 	 	18
19 	17 	Kazuki Nakajima 	 	 	19 	1:14.417 	 	 	 	 	 	 	19
20 	23 	Anthony Davidson 	 	 	20 	1:14.596 	 	 	 	 	 	 	20
21 	20 	Adrian Sutil 	 	 	21 	1:15.217 	 	 	 	 	 	 	21
22 	21 	Sakon Yamamoto 	 	 	22 	1:15.487 	 	 	 	 	 	 	22
Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1™ Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2007 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2006), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2007/races/824/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 20/02/2020)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
===Grid===
** Sutil started the race from the pitlane.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	71 	1:28:15.270 	3 	10
2 	5 	Felipe Massa 	 	71 	+1.493s 	1 	8
3 	1 	Fernando Alonso 	 	71 	+57.019s 	4 	6
4 	16 	Nico Rosberg 	 	71 	+1:02.848 	10 	5
5 	10 	Robert Kubica 	 	71 	+1:10.957 	7 	4
6 	9 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	71 	+1:11.317 	6 	3
7 	2 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	70 	+1 Lap 	2 	2
8 	12 	Jarno Trulli 	 	70 	+1 Lap 	8 	1
9 	14 	David Coulthard 	 	70 	+1 Lap 	9 	
10 	17 	Kazuki Nakajima 	 	70 	+1 Lap 	19 	
11 	11 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	70 	+1 Lap 	15 	
12 	22 	Takuma Sato 	 	69 	+2 Laps 	18 	
13 	18 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	 	69 	+2 Laps 	14 	
14 	23 	Anthony Davidson 	 	68 	+3 Laps 	20 	
Ret 	20 	Adrian Sutil 	 	43 	Brakes 	PL 	
Ret 	8 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	40 	Engine 	11 	
Ret 	4 	Heikki Kovalainen 	 	35 	Accident 	17 	
Ret 	19 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	34 	Hydraulics 	13 	
Ret 	7 	Jenson Button 	 	20 	Engine 	16 	
Ret 	15 	Mark Webber 	 	14 	Gearbox 	5 	
Ret 	21 	Sakon Yamamoto 	 	2 	Collision 	22 	
Ret 	3 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	2 	Collision 	12 	
Source:'Brazil 2007: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2007: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2007/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 20/02/2020)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* Kimi Räikkönen declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship Champion.
* 250th Grand Prix start for Rubens Barrichello.
* Ralf Schumacher made his 180th and final start.
* made their seventeenth and final appearance as a constructor.
* Debut race for Kazuki Nakajima.[Archived] '2007 Brazilian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), https://web.archive.org/web/20190410165112/http://chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2007&gp=Brazilian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 21/02/2020) - Original
* Fifteenth career victory for Räikkönen.
* secured their 201st win as a constructor and engine supplier.
* Räikkönen recorded his 25th career fastest lap.
==Standings==
A sixth win of the campaign left Kimi Räikkönen atop the FIA Formula One World Championship standings at the final round, the Finn claiming his maiden World Championship with 110 points. Lewis Hamilton hence slipped to second having headed the Championship since the Spanish Grand Prix, missing out on a rookie Championship title by a single point. Fernando Alonso then completed the top three, level on points with Hamilton but behind on countback, while Felipe Massa and Nick Heidfeld completing the top five.
In the Constructors Championship it appeared, on the surface, to have been another crushing year for , as they ended the campaign on 204 points and 103 ahead of second placed . In truth the exclusion of had really settled the Championship, for the British squad would have taken the crown had they been allowed to score points after the "Spygate Scandal" ruled then out. Third would go to , concluding their title defence with a miserable tally of 51, with all eleven constructors having registered points across the campaign.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Kimi Räikkönen 	110 	2
2 	Lewis Hamilton 	109 	1
3 	Fernando Alonso 	109 	1
4 	Felipe Massa 	94 	
5 	Nick Heidfeld 	61 	
6 	Robert Kubica 	39 	
7 	Heikki Kovalainen 	30 	
8 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	21 	
9 	Nico Rosberg 	20 	
10 	David Coulthard 	14 	
11 	Alexander Wurz 	13 	
12 	Mark Webber 	10 	
13 	Jarno Trulli 	8 	
14 	Sebastian Vettel 	6 	
15 	Jenson Button 	6 	
16 	Ralf Schumacher 	5 	
17 	Takuma Sato 	4 	
18 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	3 	
19 	Adrian Sutil 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors*	World Championship for Constructors*	World Championship for Constructors*	World Championship for Constructors*
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	204 	
2 	 	101 	
3 	 	51 	
4 	 	33 	
5 	 	24 	
6 	 	13 	
7 	 	8 	
8 	 	6 	
9 	 	4 	
10 	 	1 	
EXC 	 	166 	
Only points scoring drivers are shown.
** Includes points scored by before their exclusion prior to the 2007 Belgian Grand Prix.
==References==
Images and Videos:
*
References:
Category:Brazilian Grand Prix
Category:2007 Grands Prix
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Formula One races in Brazil