Scuderia Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen secured his first ever Formula One Drivers’ World Championship title by just one point last weekend, when he won a dramatic Brazilian Grand Prix. The victory saw Kimi finish the season on 110 points, just ahead of McLaren-Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, equal on 109, with Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa in fourth. The win adds to the 2007 Formula One Constructors’ World Championship title awarded to the team earlier in the season, taking the number of titles Scuderia Ferrari has collected with support from Shell to 12 Drivers’ and nine Constructors’.
Following the victory, Kimi commented: “It is very difficult for me to explain in words what I am feeling at the moment: it is an incredible emotion.” Kimi especially thanked the team’s technical partners, “The team is very close together; Shell has been doing a great job for us, improving the fuel - everything to help us with all the new regulations.” Felipe Massa added: “I also need to thank, as Kimi did, the sponsors who worked very hard, like Shell, like all the sponsors we have, so it was a fantastic day for them.”
Finnish-born Räikkönen, who turned 28 last week, ended his first season with Ferrari just how he started it – on top of the podium. A stunning start to the season saw him take a dominant win in Australia, before he clocked up another four victories and six podiums. With all eyes on the fight between Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, Kimi’s quiet assault steadily took him to within reach of the title and the three drivers went into the final race in Brazil just seven points apart – guaranteeing the tightest Championship fight in years. Brazilian team-mate Felipe Massa also had his most successful season yet to finish in fourth, taking three wins, seven podiums and a stunning six pole positions during a fantastically competitive season.
Juan Carlos Perez, General Manager Global Sponsorships, Shell Brands International commented: “What a fantastic way to end the season! This year is special because we came from behind, which shows how hard everyone has worked – even at the end we never gave up. This is the best way to complete in 2007 our celebrations for over 60 years of shared passion for performance with Ferrari. Persistence, anti complacency, the quality of our people and the value of our technology have delivered yet again a great outcome for our customers worldwide.”
Scuderia Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen secured his first ever Formula One Drivers’ World Championship title by just one point last weekend, when he won a dramatic Brazilian Grand Prix. The victory saw Kimi finish the season on 110 points, just ahead of McLaren-Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, equal on 109, with Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa in fourth. The win adds to the 2007 Formula One Constructors’ World Championship title awarded to the team earlier in the season, taking the number of titles Scuderia Ferrari has collected with support from Shell to 12 Drivers’ and nine Constructors’.
Finnish-born Räikkönen, who turned 28 last week, ended his first season with Ferrari just how he started it – on top of the podium. A stunning start to the season saw him take a dominant win in Australia, before he clocked up another four victories and six podiums. With all eyes on the fight between Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, Kimi’s quiet assault steadily took him to within reach of the title and the three drivers went into the final race in Brazil just seven points apart – guaranteeing the tightest Championship fight in years. Brazilian team-mate Felipe Massa also had his most successful season yet to finish in fourth, taking three wins, seven podiums and a stunning six pole positions during a fantastically competitive season.