How will you remember F1 2008?

10th November 2008, 11:00 by Keith Collantine 55 Comments »

Sebastian Vettel\'s stunning win at Monza was a high point of 2008

Sebastian Vettel's stunning win at Monza was a high point of 2008

How will you remember the 2008 F1 season? A close battle for the title that built to a glorious crescendo? Or a comedy of errors between two racers seemingly desperate to throw the championship away?

Here are six memories of the 2008 championship that stand out in my mind – share yours below.

Adrian Sutil at Monaco

This turned out to be Force India’s best chance all year to score points. Adrian Sutil mastered the conditions and seldom put a wheel wrong. From 18th on the grid he was running fourth – five points! – with ten laps to go.

Then he was rammed from behind by a rival who’d lost control of his car. Not any rival – the world champion Kimi Raikkonen, in his world championship-winning Ferrari. It was just one of several I-can’t-believe-what-I’m-seeing moments in 2008.

Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone

Yes, the McLaren was stronger in the wet than the Ferrari. Yes, Hamilton too had an off-track moment as rain lashed the Silverstone circuit. But the manner of Hamilton’s victory was utterly emphatic: an absolute rout.

Nick Heidfeld was 68 seconds behind him at the flat, Rubens Barrichello 14s further back, and no-one else was on the same lap. No wonder F1 Fanatic readers voted Hamilton the best wet weather F1 driver a few months later.

Felipe Massa at Hungary

Felipe Massa’s getaway at the Hungaroring must be a contender for start of the year. From third to first in one sweet move, Hamilton was clearly still smarting from it afterwards when he vowed not to let himself be overtaken so easily again. Massa should have capped the fine move with a win, but his engine gave up too soon.

Farce at Spa

One of those woeful times where F1 seemed hell-bent on doing as much damage to itself as possible. There were any number of reasons why stripping Hamilton of his hard-earned Belgian Grand Prix win was the wrong call: compounding it by refusing to let him appeal against the decision was madness. This was the day the FIA brought its own sport into disrepute.

Sebastian Vettel at Monza

Any number of drivers could have won this race. But Toro Rosso nailed the strategy for the wet conditions and Vettel reeled off a win that looked like his fifteenth, never mind his first. Certainly not the last.

And another thing: rain at Monza? What was that about?

The perfect finale

If Spa showed F1 at its worst, Interlagos showed off everything that’s right about the sport. A worthy setting, a feverish atmosphere, and a finale that couldn’t have been scripted better. Brazil ’08 is up there with Mexico ’90, Europe ’93, Belgium ’00 and Japan ’05 as one of the most exceptional motor races I’ve ever seen.

What are your memories of the 2008 F1 season?

Contribute to the F1 Fanatic 2008 F1 season review: Nominate your best and worst moments of the year, share your thoughts on the drivers and pick your favourite quotes of the year in the F1 Fanatic Forum

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