After the most astonishing end to an F1 championship battle in history, Lewis Hamilton is the new world champion after securing the crown by a single point from Felipe Massa.
The sheer drama of the title decider encapsulated all the ingredients that have made the 2008 season so exciting: great driving from two top drivers, thrilling racing and bag fulls of unpredictability.
Of course one man had to come out on top, and it was Hamilton by the narrowest of margins. However Massa of course ended the year with one more race victory and can point to several races where points slipped away through no fault of his own. Although Lewis himself has also lost points through controversial stewards' decisions.
We asked you whether the right man had ended up as world champion and below is just a selection of the huge response we received.
Many of you pointed to Hamilton's mistakes, but there was a strong contingent who felt he fully deserved the title. Just scroll down to view the balance of opinion...
Definitely a deserving champion. Hamilton won even when his "rear-gunner" Kovalainen faded in performance in the final few races. Perhaps the way Lewis won the title wasn't agreeable to all, as some may argue that "things just went too well for him in the end." Many F1 viewers also seem to be unable to respect Hamilton's merit and talent no matter what the kid does. To them I say "to err is human."
JM de Leon
Manila
I expect this title will only improve Hamilton's weaknesses as a driver and he certainly has some. I don't believe he deserves the title at this stage but give him a couple more years and we will see the errors that all younger drivers make disappear. He will be great in the next few seasons but he does also have a strong field to compete against, can't wait for next year to see how he does.
Steve Moore
Canada
Both Lewis and Massa drove exceptionally well this year, but the better man won. If the stewards questionable decisions through the year had gone the other way, the title would have been decided earlier. If Massa had won with equal points to Hamilton, the Spa incident would be raised again, and many would question the overall result.
At the end of the day, both were great, Hamilton was just slightly better, the next few year will see them battling over more WD titles.
John Gravett
Cumbria
It was a little bit odd to crown a champion that had just scrapped by with fifth place. A bit of a paradox. This is taking nothing away from a fully deserved championship for an extremely talented driver. It just seemed that in Interlagos Massa wanted it so much more...all of us watching could feel his agony and pain. Even at the last race he vividly displayed that he would have been as worthy a champion as Lewis Hamilton is. It was an epic finale that just makes all of us F1 fans believe that the sport might just have some life and passion left in it!
Valentinos Vilaras
Athens
On balance, I'd say Hamilton's first season in F1 was more deserving of a world title. I can't recall having ever seen a title won with the amount of mistakes Lewis (and McLaren) have made this season. On driving talent alone, there is no question he is a deserving winner. However, it takes more than that to make a true champion. That's why I think Alonso is still the best driver in F1 today.
Niels Bierman
The Netherlands
Although I am not really a Hamilton fan, I would say he deserved it over Massa. Hamilton has has had a couple of dodgy decision go against him, but you could argue that Massa has been unlucky with reliability. My decision is based purely on driving ability. Massa can only win from the front and completely crumbles when he has to overtake a car, but Hamilton has proved time and again that he is a racer and is not afraid to overtake.
Andy Smith
Hemel Hempstead
Definitely didn't deserve the title. Brazil wasn't so much a race as a tombola and Hamilton happened to win it. However you view his abilities he has neither the genuine respect nor the support of his peers. Massa has been criticised for only winning from pole, but that is also the case for Hamilton. He was very fortunate in winning this year, the next Schuey? I think not.
Bart Richins
Deal
I can't help but feel that a bit of luck was involved with Lewis winning the title - would he still have won had Glock managed to keep his Toyota pointing in the right direction or if the rain hadn't fallen so heavily? I think both Massa and Hamilton equally deserved the the title, but on the day, I think it should have been Felipe's after his stellar drive all afternoon.
Lena Rasted
Surrey
Congratulations to Lewis on his first WDC, more to come I'm sure.
I'm still baffled by some of the comments on here.
Timo slowing down deliberately?
Lewis lucky, after all those FIA calls?
I think this season has shown that Lewis is human. He's driven a few bad races in reaction to being held back by the FIA.
The last race showed that he can 'slow down' and play the numbers when he needs to...and he's even been criticized for this!
I take nothing away from Massa's performance this year, a big step forward.
But Lewis is the rightful champion!
Doug
Welwyn Garden City
Congratulations to Lewis, he deserved to win the championship and would have done so earlier if not for dubious stewards' decisions. Massa only got as far as he did because he was driving a Ferrari. Put him in a McLaren and he would be nowhere.
Chris
Edinburgh
I think Lewis is a most deserving champion. He earned every single point and more, but Massa was gifted 2 points by Raikkonen. For each point Massa lost through no fault of his own, so did Lewis what with controversial stewards decisions etc. That is racing, and the best man won. Well done Lewis, second one next year!
Kathy Webb
Ballymoney, Northern Ireland
The main thing that has made the 2008 season so epic, is that there was so little to choose between Hamilton and Massa! Both drivers deserved the title, but I think that in the end it will be much better for F1 now that Hamilton has won the title. Now we can all enjoy the racing in 2009 without worrying about when Hamilton will win it.
Dave Meecham
Birmingham
Well I feel that Massa should be world champ right now. He's worked harder than Hamilton this season, in respects that Massa hasn't always been the great driver he is now. Massa has deserved his Ferrari seat after working his way up in F1. Where Hamilton has started at the very top. Hamilton will have a hard fight next season to retain the world championship. Anyway, Congratulaions to Lewis.
Gary Ferguson
Dunfermline
To all these people saying that Glock let Lewis by on the last lap, just look at how much time Trulli lost on the last lap as well. Both Toyotas stayed out on drys, with Trulli starting the last lap nearly 4 secs behind Lewis but ended up 30 seconds behind him at the chequered flag. Had Glock pitted for the correct tyres for the conditions he would have been behind Lewis anyway. Lewis did everything that was expected of him in Brazil, what would you all be saying if he had been a maverick and thrown it off the road. Never has a team and driver had so many people against them during a season and come through to win in the end. A fantastic driver, a fantastic race, Lewis Hamilton World Champion, we should all be proud of him.
Pete Spencer
Leicester
A dedicated follower of F1 since Hunt clinched it in Fuji 76 and this was the most exciting finale ever. I love to support home grown teams and the best guy won. Poor Massa was even given 2 extra points by Kimi in China, handed the win in Spa, spun Lewis out in Fuji and got away with a drive through in Valencia. Massa also drove some outstanding races and poles but didn't deserve to be gifted the title. The one thing that needs to change is stewards and penalties. If the rules to gaining an advantage were clear enough they wouldn't have changed it post Spa to holding station through the next corner. Please no sour grapes from Ferrari fans, Lewis talks the talk and walks the walk.
Mark Tapping
Plymouth
Lewis richly deserves it because he's risen above the dubious stewards decisions and racist taunts which would have phased a lesser man. There's also a certain poetic justice in the way he did it, as since Belgium he certainly knows what its like to think you've won only to have it taken away.
Roger Cope
Cyprus
Well done Lewis. He totally deserves this. To all of those who critisise or compare him directly with Massa etc, don't forget this is Lewis's 2nd season and he is still learning and will obviously make mistakes, they all do in their 1st few seasons. I think a lot of people are being a bit hard on him. Also do not forget that he kept up with, if not out performed, a 2 times world champ in the same car, in his 1st season.
Sam
London, currently in NYC
I think he deserved it, lets face it, both drivers have had some really hit and miss races this year, but I think Lewis really pulled it out of the bag when he needed to and did some storming drives through the field in some pretty bad conditions. A championship won, in the second best car in the field.
Marc Barker
Walthamstow, London
I do wish people would stop saying that Massa should have won the title because he won more races. The fact is that stupid stewards' decisions are the only reason Massa has that extra win. If the stewards hadn't made that stupid decision then Hamilton would actually have won more races than Massa. He totally deserved the championship on the merit of his own driving during the whole season. Massa is a good driver, but obviously not good enough.
Andy
Notts
Yes Lewis is deserving of the title. He was a bit lucky in the final lap of the final race but if this had happened mid-season it would be long-forgotten. If Silverstone had been the final round (where Lewis blitzed the field and left Ferarri looking like amateurs) nobody would be questioning whether Lewis was the rightful winner.
Tom D'Roza
Ipswich, UK
Lewis is the best driver. The champion should be the best driver and that's how it's turned out. Raikkonnen, if he really cared enough, could maybe challenge Lewis. Alonso tried and failed, in the same car last year. The gap between Hamilton and Alonso on the track was wider than the final standings showed. It's a shame Lewis and Michael Schumacher couldn't have battled it out in F1. So anyway, back to the question & the answer, yes, certainly, Hamilton deserves the championship. Watch out for Vettel in future.
Tim
London
Lewis is a great driver and very deserving of the title and not only that he will be a great ambassador.
Graham Barnett
Pocklington
I can't help but feel sorry for Massa. Yes it's true that if you score more points than anyone else you deserve to be number one, but I can't help but feel that this year is the exception to that rule. Also, where's the mention of Ferrari being world champions? ITV and UK supporters go on about how this is a team sport, but all the accolades are going to the individual winner. FORZA FERRARI!
Antony
UK
Of course Hamilton is deserving of the championship, but not more so than Massa. It is worth noting that this is the first time the post-2002 scoring system has changed the result. Under the 10-6-4-3-2-1 system Massa would now be champion by three points!
Jonathan
Southampton
I think Lewis is the luckiest guy alive after Seb Vettel passed him only to take the world championship back on the last corner becasue of Tmo Glock's error. But well done Lewis, youngest champion and whatt a great season.
Jexter108
London
Yes well deserved in fact by rights he should have won by more than seven points given the FIA's robbery over the year. Massa may also have suffered some poor luck this year but none were dubious decisions against him in all those conditions the FIA decisions favoured him.
Alasdair Macleod
Hawick
Absolutely the right man has won after so many unfair decisions against him. If it weren't for those he'd have had it wrapped up before Brazil. He's been better than Massa all season and a lot of growing up has been done to prove that he's the one. He will be better than Schumacher and I think will approach Senna. Well done Lewis!
Andy Morris
Guernsey
Lewis is a deserved champion. Both Ferrari and McLaren have made mistakes this year. History tells us that the number two in the team never wins, not for Ferrari anyway, remember Eddie?
Alan
Madrid
No. He was lucky i think the driver with most wins under his belt should win not the most consistent that is what constructors' title is about.
Linda Thomas
Glasgow
It was very, very close, both drivers made a few mistakes, particularly Massa at Silverstone, on balance either would have been pretty deserving- leaving their team-mates in their dust.... however Lewis was the strongest driver last year and this year he had the luck when it mattered.
Graeme Wilson
London
There is no doubt that Lewis has talent, but Massa was robbed in Brazil. Massa deserved the title this year and it was only a cruel twist of fate (a deliberate slow down by Glock), that handed the title to Hamilton. Lewis will only prove himself once he wins races in an uncompetitive car - that is the mark of a true racing great. 2008 will be the title that should have been for Massa, I only hope he comes back stronger than ever next year and claims the title in spectacular style.
Claudia
Sunderland
I'm unashamedly a Hamilton fan but, nevertheless, there can be no doubt that Lewis deserved the title (although I have to say that Massa did too). Some may say that he was extremely lucky. On the other hand you could say that Masa was lucky, in that if it had kept on raining at that start of the race, then Lewis would most probably have won the race, as well as the championship.
SB
Leeds
By far the correct result! Massa points and 'wins' are peppered with dubious stewards decisions in his favour including Lewis being stripped of a win, Massa getting a small fine for a usually big pit lane infringement and the ludicrous Bourdais incident where one has to remember the make of the engine in the back of the Torro Rosso car is Ferrari! Without any of those unfairly gained points it would have been over a race ago. Massa aint no world champion this or any year.
Ronnie Stone
Merseyside
Well done Lewis and McLaren. Over the course of the season, the right man won. They've made us Brits very happy!! Congratulations and well done to ITV too!
Martin Cope
Brighton
Both have made mistakes (Lewis in Canada, Massa in the opening two rounds) and both have won brilliantly (Lewis in GB and Massa in Barhain) however I can't help that feel that Massa over the course of the whole year has performed better. Let's not forget Lewis has a whole team working for him these days.
Andrew Kirk
Edinburgh
Lewis has raw talent, but he still needs to mature his racing tactics. Both Massa and Hamilton drove well all season, and both deserved to win the championship. Hamilton had fortune on his side in Brazil, and if he accepts this fact, then he deserves his title. Merit to Massa for taking it to the wire. Congrats to Hamilton.
Ross
Sydney
Lewis was definately a deserving champ. The person with the most points won.
However, I can't believe how cruel it was on Felipe Massa to have lost the title by a matter of seconds. For a mere 30 seconds or so, he was on top of the world.
And then he entered the pits and parked up. Never before have I felt so bad for a person. This probably was Felipe's only chance of a title. Best of luck to him next year, and a big well done for Lewis again. I doubt Ferrari will forget this over the winter break, and i'm sure they'll be back!
James
Plymouth
Hamilton deserved the title, he had no help from a team-mate gifting him points, nor did he benefit from 'suspect' steward's decisions. He won with inspired wet weather driving, and beat both the entire field, and the FIA!
Giles Caughey
Devon
Massa deserved to win the championship. Take away the engine blow up in Hungary and the fuel rig calamity in Sinagpore, both occasions Massa light years ahead plus his six wins, not to mention the poor driveability of the Ferrari in wet conditions and he was the most deserving driver of the season.
Mark
Liverpool
Most definately a deserving champion.
I do feel for Massa, but Massa lost through a lot of Ferrari mistakes.
Hamilton almost lost through a lot of controversial stewards decisions.
If one of those decisions had gone Lewis' way for once, he would have won the championship in China.
Ultimately, Lewis deserved this.
Adrian Coles
Kettering
That is a difficult question to answer, because in reality, the class of 2008 is pretty mediocre. If the title fight was tight, it wasn't due to breathtaking ability, but because all protagonists made countless mistakes. Therefore, from a field of pretty bad racers, Hamilton is one of the least mediocre ones, and someone had to win it, right?
Bernie Pulgar
Sydney, Australia
No, he was just plain lucky. If Timo hadn't slowed he wouldn't be crowned WC. He should have gone out and fought the last race convincingly - man to man, machine to machine with Massa and clinch the title with a race win, rather than circling around in fifth place for most of the race and hope the rain falls, someone in front of him fails.
Philip Wong
Singapore
Obviously they both deserved it.
Hamilton is just that bit more consistant. If he does not see the red mist.
In the end though Hamilton did it. Wow and double wow
What a shame we have taked the best season ever and decided to change the regs so nuch next year we now have no Idea how the competition will work out.
The usual rule "if it aint broke dont fix" it should apply
Still looking forward to next year though.
Robin
france
Yes, of course he deserves the championship. If it hadn't been for all those stupid stewards' decisions he'd have won it before now. It seemed at times that the FIA did everything to try and stop him getting the championship, but thank goodness it didn't work. I still can't believe what happened in that race though, it really was a bit too close for comfort (and it didn't do my blood pressure any good at all!)
Andrew
Devon, UK
I like Lewis. He is easily the most entertaining driver on the track at the moment, but I can't help thinking that if Massa had finished earlier races, and taken the Hungary victory that he deserved the championship standings would be a lot different in favour of Massa.
Nick
Leeds
I guess Lewis is as deserving to win the title as Felipe would have been. Did Lewis deserve to finish the race in a position to take the title though? No.
A serious investigation needs to look at the motivation behind Glocks final lap speed. It all seems a little too convenient that a lap some 17 seconds slower than those previous comes just in time to steal the title from Massa.
Adam
Australia
I think Massa would be the more deserving world champion as he has more race wins and second place finishes as compared to Hamilton. With at least four tops teams next year we really need a better points system.
Hardik
Mumbai
Lewis Hamilton deserves the championship!
He had been against all odds all season long. He even had to play safe the last race because McLaren was afraid that other "driver/s" might conspire against him from winning the title. Massa never had that threat hovering above his head. Massa only needed to drive. Hamilton had to drive and "watch his back". Hamilton should have had the title a race ago but that was robbed from him because what happened in Belgium. Lewis indeed deserves the championship...and did it as the youngest ever.
George M Lu
USA
Lewis may have won the championship on the last lap, but he was also convincingly out driven by a Toro Rosso. Add that to a series of questionable incidents throughout the year and it’s clear that while Lewis was the winner, he isn't a champion.
Michael Princi
Adelaide, Australia
I was a little disappointed with Hamilton's Interlagos performance. I know he had to play it safe but it wasn't really a champion's drive. On balance I think Massa did a better job this year. He had some bad luck but was a much improved driver compared with previous seasons. Hamilton seems to be unchanged - brilliant one race all over the place the next!
Jenny Barnes
New Zealand
Massa won the most races, he deserves it most. Seems if you would like to become Champion, all you need is consistency, which makes races dull, when a driver decides to go for a "nice" Sunday drive to gather points! I guess there's always next year with all the new regulations, I for one cant wait! C'mon Massa!
Don Smith
Scotland
At the end of the day, the driver with the most points after the last race deserves to be world champion. If the championship was based on that last race, Massa would have deserved it because he put in the drive of his life, and I was heartbroken for him, especially considering that Lewis lacked pace throughout the entire race and only won the championship in the last corner. But that's racing, and great respect to both men.
Ross Messinger
Northants, UK
Lewis Hamilton is definitely a deserving champion; with everything he's been put through, from excessive penalties to repeated criticism from other drivers, as well as blatant racism from some "fans", the guy has weathered a massive storm in the past 2 seasons. Given how close he was in 2007, it is fitting that he won this time by the a 1 point margin. Massa also drove brilliantly at times this season, and it is unfortunate that he had to miss out on his dream at the last corner of the final race of '08. Hopefully, Felipe will again find himself in contention for the title, and end up winning one, as well. Amazing season, overall. 2009 has a lot to live up to!
Kerim Sursal
Toronto, Canada
I thought Lewis was the most consistant driver all season and deserved to win the chapionship. Massa had a good season but I think unlike Lewis when he had bad races he had really bad ones and scored no points but when Lewis had a bad race he managed to score a few points. Well done Lewis.
Alan Paynter
UK
I'm not a Hamilton fan in any way but you can't deny his talent. Ferrari have only themselves to blame, the mistakes they made in the pits throughout the season cost Massa a deserved title.
Gary Merrilees
Scotland
I thought Lewis had a fantastic season and race. To win a championship on the last lap of the last race of the season is truly inspiring. I felt a little bad for Felipe loosing in such a manner. But I am sure he will win another time. But for now it's Lewis's turn. Well done Lewis and may you have many more victories.
Adrian
St. Kitts and Nevis
Hamiltion is a well deserved champion. Outclassed his team mate last year(and this year). Fought not only racing drivers, but the FIA. He should have had more points if the Stewards acted fairly and Massa should have had less points. He has reacted professionally to critisism and racial abuse and after all that, became a worthy World Champion. Now give him the respect he deserves and don't be bad losers or sportsmen.
By the way I really think Massa has been outstanding in the last two years. He also outclassed his team mate and could have been a worthy champion. Believe it or not he is my favourite driver, after Hamilton (of course).
Paul Bates
Sheffield
On balance yes - Lewis is the more deserving winner. He's had his fair share of bad luck and some tiresome decisions by the stewards but in the end the luck he was due swung back in his direction. Take nothing away from Massa, he drove a great race to win it but all in all, the best man won.
Andy
Stafford
Ten years ago, it was my dream to watch Lewis win the WDC when he grew up. Now he has, I really must say I don't fully believe he has deserved this championship more so than Felipe Massa.
I believe that Massa has worked so hard to improve not only his driving, but his reputation has improved enormously and people take him as a serious championship contender.
Lewis in my view has worked hard to get to where he is, but does not command the kind of respect that Massa does at this moment in time, and I don't think he won the championship on merit alone.
However, that doesn't mean to say that he never will. And I hope that Felipe will continue to improve also.
Stephanie Clark
Northampton, England
Not really. Yet another weekend where he was totally dominated by Felipe and Fernando. For me, Lewis has made too many mistakes of his own fault this year to be a worthy champion. Ferrari have thrown away this championship with two awful pit lane disasters and an unusually unreliable car.
Chris
Nottingham
I think either of them would have certainly been a worthy champion, even if Felipe is my personal favourite. Lewis drove very well throughout the year, and definitely benefitted from a 100% reliable McLaren. Even though Massa had a solid year himself both in terms of speed and focus, reliability issues in Melbourne and Budapest, along with the pit stop blunder in Singapore, sealed his fate.
Pedro
Costa Rica
Despite me not being his greatest fan, you have to admire his record and his impressive drives in Britain and China this year. He may not be the best driver in the sport (In my opinion) but he has taken full advantage of the opportnities given to him and achieved his goals; well done! A deserving winner.
David
Dundee, Scotland
Massa was the better driver in 2008, he just made 2 costly errors in rounds 1 and 2 while fighting Raikkonen for internal Ferrari ascendancy and that has cost him. He also had the only mechanical failures of the two contenders. Hamilton made many errors over the year and did not have to fight his team mate at any stage, and incurred a lot of penalties. He deserved the title more in 2007 than this year.
Tim Brown
NZL
Hamilton deserved it as he should have had the victory in Spa and Massa gained an extra point in Japan. Great season Lewis, now go and prove all the doubters next season by winning again.
Stephen Sutcliffe
Washington, Tyne & Wear
My eyes were on stalks, my heart was pounding like a pneumatic drill, and, uncharacteristically, I was actually screaming at the tele' when Glock slowed and subsequently saw Lewis regain 5th place. However; in all the excitement, I felt sorry, genuinely sorry for Massa; credit where it's due, raced superbly this year. But he had no where near as much overtaking as Lewis, not anywhere near the amount of car control, and definately not as much flair, bravery, style or controlled aggression.
Lewis won the championship fair 'n' square; despite the stewards calls.
A masterful, mature, clever, skilled and most deserving champion. Lewis - excellent work!
Kris Andrews
North London
That was the most incredible three laps of a race I've ever seen! When Vettel passed Lewis I thought it was all over! But oh my God, Glock's decision not to pit backfired spectacularly, that was absolutely incredible, there isn't a more deserving world champion. Well done Lewis!
Tom Archer
Bristol
Without a doubt Hamilton is the worthy Champion. He had to endure dodgy decisions by stewards, abuse by so called "fans" and still managed to hold it all together, that is the mark of a true Champion perseverance in the face of adversity. I thought the title had got away from him it was so tense and now I cannot believe that there are people who are questioning Glock and saying that he gave it to Hamilton by allowing him to pass!
Congratulations to Hamilton a worthy record breaking Champion
Dawn Gold
Kent, England
What an uninspiring drive Hamilton made to clinch the title. He was lucky not to lose it. Did he lose his nerve this weekend?
I would say that Massa was the deserving champion. He didn't win the championship because of Ferrari's errors, not because of his lack of performance.
Nicholas Smith
England