WATCH: OTD in 2008 Lewis Hamilton won his maiden World Championship title on last lap at Brazilian GP

On this day in 2008, Lewis Hamilton etched his name into Formula 1 history by securing his first World Championship in a breathtaking, last-lap showdown at the Brazilian Grand Prix. At just 23 years old, Hamilton became the youngest F1 World Champion, dramatically seizing the title and marking the first championship win for a British driver since Damon Hill in 1996.

Hamilton entered the Brazilian GP with a clear objective: finish at least fifth to claim the championship, even if his closest competitor, Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, won the race. The stakes couldn’t have been higher. Massa, racing on home soil in Sao Paulo, took pole position and commanded the lead, crossing the finish line first with the crowd erupting in celebration, believing he had won the title.

However, Hamilton’s determination and the unpredictable Brazilian weather turned the race into one of the sport’s most memorable finales. As the rain began to fall in the closing laps, several drivers pitted to switch to wet tyres, but Toyota’s Timo Glock opted to stay on dry tyres, hoping to gain track position.

Here is the video:

Hamilton, who had dropped to sixth, was desperate to reclaim fifth place on the last lap. Approaching the final corners, Glock’s lack of grip became evident, allowing Hamilton to make a crucial pass in the last seconds. Hamilton’s fifth-place finish was enough to secure the championship by a single point, snatching victory from Massa at the very last moment.

A painful moment for Ferrari!

The moment was electric. Over the team radio, Hamilton anxiously asked, “Do I have it, do I have it?” When confirmation came, he was overcome with emotion. The Ferrari garage, moments earlier celebrating Massa’s victory, was stunned by the abrupt twist. Ferrari’s then-team principal, Stefano Domenicali, later described it as a “painful” moment for the team and fans alike.

Hamilton’s title win set the stage for a career that would see him become one of the sport’s all-time greats. Since that day, Hamilton has gone on to win six more championships, but his first title in Brazil remains one of the most iconic and heart-stopping moments in F1 history.