2008 Brazilian Grand Prix
The 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix (formally the Formula 1 Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2008) was a Formula One motor race held on 2 November 2008 at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagos, in São Paulo, Brazil. It was the eighteenth and final race of the 2008 Formula One World Championship. Ferrari driver Felipe Massa won the 71-lap race from pole position; this was the last of Massa's 11 Grand Prix wins. Fernando Alonso finished second in a Renault, and Massa's teammate Kimi Räikkönen finished third.
| 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix | |||||
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Race 18 of 18 in the 2008 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 2 November 2008 | ||||
| Official name | Formula 1 Grande Prêmio do Brasil 2008 | ||||
| Location | Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo, Brazil | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 4.309 km (2.677 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 71 laps, 305.909 km (190.083 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Rain at beginning and end, otherwise drying | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||||
| Time | 1:12.368 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | |||
| Time | 1:13.736 on lap 36 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | Ferrari | ||||
| Second | Renault | ||||
| Third | Ferrari | ||||
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Lap leaders | |||||
Massa started the race alongside Toyota driver Jarno Trulli. Massa's teammate Räikkönen began from third next to McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton. Rain fell minutes before the race, delaying the start, and as the track dried Massa established a lead of several seconds. More rain late in the race made the last few laps treacherous for the drivers, but could not prevent Massa from winning the Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel of Toro Rosso finished in fourth place behind Alonso and Räikkönen. Hamilton passed Toyota's Timo Glock in the final corners of the race to finish fifth, securing him the points needed to take the Drivers' Championship.
Hamilton received praise from many in the Formula One community, including former champions Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher. The McLaren driver also received official congratulations from Queen Elizabeth II and British prime minister Gordon Brown. Massa's win and Räikkönen's third place helped Ferrari win the Constructors' Championship. The Grand Prix was 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard's final race; the Scot retired after 246 race starts. This Grand Prix was also the last to feature the grooved dry weather compound tyres since they were introduced in 1998 as slick tyres were reintroduced for the 2009 season onwards.