world championship

Lewis Hamilton won the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship through a combination of skill, luck, McLaren-Mercedes' expertise and having 'the perfect wingman' alongside him in the form of team-mate Heikki Kovalainen - that is the view of grand prix legend Niki Lauda.

Robert Kubica has admitted that he still cannot explain his sudden slump in form towards the end of the 2008 Formula 1 season - a drop-off so serious that it saw him fail to qualify inside the top ten for the final two races and almost indeed fall victim to the dreaded Q1, score no points in two

It is perhaps entirely appropriate that the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship title showdown should take place at Interlagos, since the circuit lends itself perfectly to drama and - whatever happens - the outcome of this weekend will make grand prix history.

Formula 1 World champion-elect Lewis Hamilton has insisted that he does not 'fear anyone' when it comes to his rivals - though he does admit Robert Kubica and former team-mate Fernando Alonso will likely provide him with his sternest competition in the years to come.

After a Chinese Grand Prix in which Felipe Massa had to be 'gifted' second place by team-mate Kimi Raikkonen in order to boost his ailing title chances, the Brazilian's race engineer Rob Smedley hinted that neither of Maranello's drivers may in fact be the quickest in Formula 1 - suggesting that

Lewis Hamilton has got his bid to become the youngest-ever Formula 1 World Champion firmly back on-track, as he responded to his critics of the past week and banished his unhappy memories of Shanghai 2007 in perfect style - by destroying Ferrari's challenge to consummately prevail in the Chinese

Two of Formula 1's leading figures have accused world championship leader Lewis Hamilton of being 'arrogant', of possessing 'too high an opinion of himself' and of having 'learned nothing' from his Japanese Grand Prix indiscretion six days ago.

BMW-Sauber star Robert Kubica is the most deserving of the three contenders for this year's Formula 1 World Championship - that is the view of Jacques Villeneuve, who claimed the crown for Williams-Renault back in 1997.

Fernando Alonso has redoubled his attack on former McLaren-Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton as the 2008 Formula 1 world title fight closes in - by claiming that 'all the drivers want [Felipe] Massa to be champion'.

Fernando Alonso may 'belong' in a Ferrari or McLaren-Mercedes, but 'mentality-wise he is not the complete package' in Formula 1 - that is the view of British former grand prix star Derek Warwick.

Kimi Raikkonen would have had a 'much more difficult' life had Enzo Ferrari still been alive - that is the contention of Jody Scheckter, who secured the Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship for Maranello back in 1979.

Singapore and Japanese Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso has vowed that should the opportunity present itself, he will 'help' Ferrari's Felipe Massa to prevail in the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship.

Despite having endured two collisions along the way, Felipe Massa's drive in the Japanese Grand Prix has been praised as 'amazing' by Ferrari, whilst the man himself refuted all blame in his comings-together with Lewis Hamilton and S?bastien Bourdais.

Following on from his Singapore triumph, Fernando Alonso sent out a clear message that former Formula 1 World Champions Renault are back with a bang in the top flight, by storming to a sensational second consecutive success in the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji.

Lewis Hamilton's pole position for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway has been lauded as 'possibly the best lap of his career so far' - even though the Formula 1 World Championship leader himself admitted it 'wasn't perfect'.

Former Formula 1 star Eddie Irvine has branded Fuji Speedway - home to this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix - 'a crap circuit' and 'the worst place possible to have a grand prix', as he insisted the race should never have been taken away from Suzuka.

The Japanese Grand Prix this weekend marks the 16th of 18 rounds on the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship calendar, and an absolutely pivotal moment in the see-saw title battle that has been waged almost season-long between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa.

Former grand prix driver Jonathan Palmer has suggested Felipe Massa's performances at times during the 2008 Formula 1 campaign have not been 'the sign of a world champion' - as he instead tipped Massa's McLaren-Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton to prevail come season's end.

Ferrari has finally bowed to mounting pressure to ditch its controversial 'traffic lights' pit-stop system, in revealing that it is to re-instate the traditional manual 'lollipop' for the final three races of the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship campaign.

Kimi Raikkonen has admitted that the prospect of breaking his own record for the greatest number of fastest laps set during a Formula 1 season [see separate story - click

Having all-but kissed goodbye to his hopes of retaining his Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship crown by crashing out of the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix night race this weekend with three laps left to run, Kimi Raikkonen has apologised to Ferrari for costing the squad the lead in the constru

Fernando Alonso has returned Renault to the top of the rostrum in Formula 1 for the first time in almost two years by producing the drive of a champion to triumph in the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix night outing this weekend.

Norbert Haug has sought to dismiss suggestions the battle for the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship has now boiled down to just a two-horse race between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa.

Formula 1 World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton has failed in his bid to see the penalty that cost him victory in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps overturned - after the FIA today ruled his and McLaren-Mercedes' appeal 'inadmissible'.