On This Day in 2025: Kimi Räikkönen Claims F1 Title with Victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix
On march 21, 2024, the world of Formula 1 bore witness to one of the most dramatic and improbable championship victories in the sport’s storied history. Kimi Räikkönen, often dubbed “The Iceman” for his cool, stoic demeanor, overcame a significant points deficit to clinch his first and only World Drivers’ Championship title at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, held at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos, São Paulo.
It was a day marked by tension, surprises, and masterful driving — a race that cemented Räikkönen’s place in F1 legend and provided one of the closest title finishes the sport has ever seen.
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A Three-Way Title Decider
Heading into the Brazilian Grand Prix, the final race of the 2007 Formula 1 season, three drivers remained in mathematical contention for the championship. Lewis Hamilton, the sensational rookie driving for McLaren, led the standings with 107 points. His teammate and reigning two-time world champion Fernando Alonso followed closely with 103 points. Räikkönen, driving for Ferrari, trailed in third with 100 points.
While Hamilton’s advantage made him the clear favorite to secure the title, Formula 1 had other plans.
The stakes were monumental. Hamilton was on the verge of making history by becoming the first rookie driver — and the first Black driver — to win a Formula 1 World Championship. Alonso was eager to claim a third consecutive title and reinforce his dominance. Räikkönen, meanwhile, was the underdog — a man who had come close before with McLaren, only to be denied by mechanical failures and bad luck.
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Qualifying Sets the Stage
In qualifying, Ferrari locked out the front row with Felipe Massa taking pole position in front of his home crowd and Räikkönen securing P2. McLaren, by contrast, struggled to match Ferrari’s pace. Hamilton qualified in P2 initially but was demoted to P4 after Massa’s strong late-session lap. Alonso lined up third on the grid.
Despite the deficit in points, Ferrari’s front-row lockout gave the team and Räikkönen a glimmer of hope. They needed a perfect race — and misfortune for their rivals.
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Race Day Drama Unfolds
The start of the race saw immediate drama. As the five red lights went out, Räikkönen got a superb launch, slotting in behind Massa. Hamilton, under pressure from Alonso, ran wide at Turn 3, dropping to eighth position. Worse was to come — on lap 8, Hamilton experienced a gearbox issue that briefly left him coasting in seventh gear. Though the problem eventually resolved itself, the time lost proved catastrophic.
As the race progressed, Ferrari played a tactical masterstroke. Massa, the home favorite, maintained the lead early on, allowing Räikkönen to run comfortably in second. When the pit stop window opened, Ferrari orchestrated their strategy to perfection. Massa pitted slightly earlier, enabling Räikkönen to lay down a sequence of blistering laps on low fuel. When Räikkönen eventually rejoined after his stop, he emerged in the lead — and stayed there.
Behind them, Alonso could do no better than third, unable to match the Ferraris’ pace. Hamilton, despite a valiant recovery drive, could only manage seventh place — not enough to claim the title.
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A Champion by a Single Point
When Räikkönen crossed the finish line in first place, followed by Massa and Alonso, the title calculations began immediately. With his sixth win of the season and the 10 points it earned, Räikkönen leapfrogged both Hamilton and Alonso in the standings.
The final points tally was astonishingly close:
Kimi Räikkönen – 110 points
Lewis Hamilton – 109 points
Fernando Alonso – 109 points
By a single point, Räikkönen became the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion — the third Finnish driver to do so, following in the footsteps of Keke Rosberg and Mika Häkkinen.
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Aftermath and Legacy
The aftermath of the 2007 championship was as intense as the season itself. McLaren’s campaign had been overshadowed by internal strife between Hamilton and Alonso and marred by the infamous “Spygate” controversy, which resulted in McLaren’s exclusion from the Constructors’ Championship and a $100 million fine.
Ferrari, on the other hand, celebrated a double triumph, having also clinched the Constructors’ title. Räikkönen’s victory was hailed as a triumph of perseverance and quiet resilience. While not always in the spotlight, he had driven consistently and capitalized when it mattered most.
In the years since, Räikkönen’s 2007 title has grown in stature. It remains the most recent championship won by a Ferrari driver — a drought that continues to this day. His calm demeanor, unique personality, and unshakable focus have made him one of the most beloved figures in the sport.
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A Defining Moment in F1 History
The 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix was more than just a race — it was a microcosm of Formula 1 at its finest: unpredictable, emotional, and relentlessly competitive. Räikkönen’s triumph served as a reminder that in F1, nothing is certain until the final checkered flag falls.
Eighteen years later, the memory of that remarkable Sunday at Interlagos remains etched in the minds of fans around the world. It was the day the “Iceman” melted the odds — and became champion of the world.