But at the end, it were the antics of two championship outsiders – Robert Kubica and Timo Glock – that left millions of television viewers with a jaw-dropping finale.

With Brazilian Massa proving invincible at his hometown circuit and leading for a large part of the race, Hamilton needed to finish at least fifth to capture the world drivers’ title, a single point ahead of the Ferrari racer. As rain beat down on the still-damp track with just eight remaining, Massa’s Ferrari team pulled off a flawless tyre change pit-stop, emerging from the lanes ahead of second-placed Fernando Alonso.

But with Hamilton securely in fifth place behind Massa, Alonso, Raikkonen and Glock, Massa needed a miracle to overtake the young Brit in the drivers’ championship table. And Kubica stepped up to the plate to answer Massa’s prayers.

A lap behind the race leaders and with no chance of winning the race, BMW Sauber’s Kubica had to move out of the way to allow the drivers ahead of him to overtake, according to F1 rules. But he inexplicably bundled into the way of Hamilton’s McLaren, forcing Hamilton wide, and allowing Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso to pass into fifth place.

Two laps to go: Massa in the lead, Hamilton pushed to sixth. Things were looking up for a Ferrairi triple celebration – Sao Paulo winner, Constructors’ Champion, and Drivers’ Champion!

And the Hamilton team and family could only watch in shock as Lewis haplessly tried to catch Vettel in the final few kilometres of the race, in treacherous rain, robbed by outsider Kubica.

Then Timo Glock sprung a surprise of his own.

Hanging in fourth position behind Massa, Alonso and Raikkonen, Glock unbelievably almost seemed like he slammed on the brakes to stop just before the finish line, allowing Vettel and Hamilton to cross the finish line ahead of him.

As Massa took the chequed flag, Hamilton had the drivers’ title handed to him on a plate by a ’stranger’, Glock.

One could not help but feel Massa’s pain, losing the championship by a mere point, after having won six races this season (more than Hamilton), and battling back from nightmare races in Silverstone, when he spun out repeatedly on the wet tarmac, and Singapore, when he suffered an embarrassing gaffe, driving off in the pit-stop with his fuel line still attached. But it was only right that Hamilton won, after having been infringed by Kubica.

As Massa and Raikkonen celebrated their 1-3 finish on the podium at Sao Paulo, and Ferrari claimed their Constructors’ title, it was Hamilton camp that had the broadest smiles all round. Thanks to Glock, 23-year-old Lewis Hamilton has entered the record books for being the youngest-ever world F1 champion.

It doesn’t matter what Ferrari says. And even though I do feel oh-so bad for Massa’s last-grasp misery, the new world champion Hamilton truly deserves to win, especially after Raikkonen nipped in at the final race to steal his crown in his debut season last year.

All hail, King Hamilton!

For those who missed it on TV last night, here it is again! The final lap of Sao Paulo F1 GP 2008!