Complete calendar with 18 races
The 2008 Formula 1 season delivered one of the most thrilling and heartbreaking championship climaxes in motorsport history, as Lewis Hamilton snatched his first World Championship from Felipe Massa's grasp by passing Timo Glock in the final corner of the final lap of the final race. The single-point margin - 98 to 97 - represented the closest finish since 1984 and provided a dramatic redemption for Hamilton after his devastating 2007 finale loss, while leaving Massa and Ferrari to reflect on what might have been in a season they arguably should have won.
Hamilton's championship campaign was characterized by brilliant victories interspersed with costly errors. He won five races including masterful displays in Monaco, Britain, Germany, and China, showcasing his wet-weather brilliance and qualifying prowess. However, mistakes at Bahrain and Canada, plus the controversial Belgian Grand Prix penalty after his collision with Kimi Räikkönen, cost him valuable points. The McLaren MP4-23, while not the fastest car over the season, proved competitive and reliable under the stewardship of Martin Whitmarsh following Ron Dennis's operational departure. Hamilton's partnership with Heikki Kovalainen worked smoothly, with the affable Finn playing a supporting role without the toxicity of the Alonso partnership.
Massa's season represented his finest as a Grand Prix driver, winning six races including emotional victories at Bahrain, Turkey, France, Valencia, Spa-Francorchamps, and his home race in Brazil. The Brazilian demonstrated growth in maturity and racecraft, frequently matching Hamilton's pace and displaying resilience under pressure. His pole position at Interlagos and dominant victory seemed to have secured the championship as he crossed the line, with his family and Ferrari already celebrating. But in the torrential rain, Hamilton passed the struggling Toyota of Timo Glock at the final corner to claim the fifth place he needed, ripping the championship away in the cruelest fashion imaginable. Massa's devastation was palpable, and the moment would haunt him throughout his career.
Ferrari's F2008 proved the class of the field for much of the season, with the team winning eight races - more than any rival. Kimi Räikkönen won twice at Malaysia and Spain but struggled for consistency and speed compared to his teammate, finishing third in the championship. The Finn's title defense faltered amidst mechanical issues and uncharacteristic errors, leading to questions about his motivation. Ferrari's constructor's championship victory - their 16th and last until 2025 - came as small consolation for missing out on the drivers' crown that had seemed within their grasp.
BMW Sauber emerged as a genuine contender in the season's first half, with Robert Kubica winning a brilliant Canadian Grand Prix and leading the championship after the opening races. The Polish driver's speed and consistency made him a title threat, while Nick Heidfeld provided solid support with regular podiums. However, BMW's controversial decision to abandon 2008 development and focus on their 2009 car backfired spectacularly - they faded from contention in the second half of the season and their 2009 challenger proved uncompetitive, hastening their withdrawal from F1.
Renault's season was defined by controversy and occasional brilliance. Fernando Alonso returned to the team and won twice at Singapore and Japan, though the Singapore victory was later tainted by the 'Crashgate' scandal when it emerged that teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. had deliberately crashed to trigger a safety car that favored Alonso's strategy. The scandal only became public in 2009, leading to lifetime bans and resignations. Despite this, Alonso finished a respectable fifth in the championship, while Piquet struggled throughout before being dropped mid-2009.
The season witnessed significant midfield battles and storylines. Red Bull Racing showed promising form with Sebastian Vettel becoming the youngest race winner in history with a stunning wet-weather victory at Monza, aged just 21, for Toro Rosso - Red Bull's junior team. David Coulthard retired from F1 at season's end after 15 years, while Mark Webber continued to impress for Red Bull. Williams-Toyota struggled despite having championship winner Nico Rosberg, and Toyota remained winless despite Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock occasionally troubling the podium - though Glock's final-corner drama defined his career.
Honda endured another disastrous season with Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello failing to score a single point, leading to the manufacturer's shock withdrawal from F1 at the end of the year. Super Aguri folded mid-season due to financial problems, while Force India - the rebranded Spyker team under Vijay Mallya's ownership - struggled at the back of the grid. The economic crisis looming over 2008-2009 began affecting F1, with budget concerns and manufacturer commitment becoming serious issues.
The Brazilian Grand Prix finale remains one of Formula 1's most dramatic moments. Massa crossed the line to what he thought was the championship, with Ferrari mechanics celebrating wildly in the pit lane. But Hamilton's last-gasp pass on Glock - whose dry-tire gamble failed in the worsening conditions - gave the Briton fifth place and the one point he needed. The image of Hamilton's jubilation contrasting with Massa's devastation, his father in tears, and Ferrari's confusion epitomized the razor-thin margins that separate glory from heartbreak in Formula 1. At 23 years old, Hamilton became Britain's youngest world champion and vindicated McLaren's faith in promoting their junior driver two years earlier. For Massa and Ferrari, 2008 would remain the championship that got away, a painful what-if that became even more poignant after Massa's career-threatening injury in 2009.