The second triumph of his
Formula 1 career, Massa led home
Fernando Alonso, for whom the runner-up spot was more than enough to confirm his second successive world drivers’ title as rival for the crown Michael Schumacher fought valiantly back from an early puncture to steal fourth place from McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen in the dying laps. In the final grand prix of his spectacular career, the German drove like a true champion and left defeated but with his head held high, as Jenson Button joined Massa and Alonso on the bottom step of the rostrum – only the Briton’s third podium finish of the campaign.
Giancarlo Fisichella came home sixth to ensure Renault walked away with the constructors’ laurels too, with Rubens Barrichello scoring for Honda on home turf in seventh and Pedro de la Rosa taking the final point for
McLaren in eighth. There was embarrassment for
Williams, however, as
Nico Rosberg and
Mark Webber took each other out on the opening tour – the second year in a row the team had failed to get either of its cars beyond lap one…
1.
Felipe Massa Brazil
Ferrari-Ferrari 71
01:31:53.751
2.
Fernando Alonso Spain
Renault-Renault +18.6
3.
Jenson Button Britain
Honda-Honda +19.3
4.
Michael Schumacher Germany
Ferrari-Ferrari +24.0
5.
Kimi Raikkonen Finland
McLaren-Mercedes +28.5
6.
Giancarlo Fisichella Italy
Renault-Renault +30.2
7.
Rubens Barrichello Brazil
Honda-Honda +40.2
8.
Pedro de la Rosa Spain
McLaren-Mercedes +52.0
