Debate: can Lewis be as good as Michael Schumacher? | Simon Barnes on Hamilton's risk | 2008 race-by-race | Hamilton's win in his own words | Graphic: the most thrilling championship finish ever?

March 16: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne

Lewis Hamilton starts the 2008 season in style with a crushing win for McLaren Mercedes in oppressive heat on the street track in Albert Park. While Hamilton leads almost all afternoon, Felipe Massa has a poor day, spinning his Ferrari into a wall and tangling with David Coulthard in the Red Bull. The Brazilian ends the race pointless after his engine gives out.

Race finish/total points: Lewis Hamilton: 1st/10; Kimi Raikkonen: 8th/1; Felipe Massa: DNF/0; Robert Kubica: DNF/0

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March 23: Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang

Kimi Raikkonen, the world champion, wins as the Ferraris bounce back against McLaren with Massa leading an all-red one-two in qualifying. Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen, his teammate, are penalised five places for driving a slow lap on the racing line in qualifying. In the race, Massa spins out from second while Hamilton is undone by a botched pitstop. Robert Kubica, of BMW Sauber, announces his presence at the top table by finishing second.

Hamilton: 5th/14; Raikkonen: 1st/11; Kubica: 2nd/8; Massa: DNF/0

April 6: Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir

A mistake on the grid by Hamilton as he selects the wrong engine setting and loses places from third on the grid. On the second lap, he runs into the back of Fernando Alonso’s Renault and, after pitting for a new wing, he lies eighteenth. Kubica starts from pole for the first time, but is overwhelmed by Massa, who is delighted to get back to winning ways, and then Raikkonen.

Raikkonen: 2nd/19; Hamilton: 13th/14; Kubica: 3rd/14; Massa: 1st/10

April 27: Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona

A Ferrari one-two led by Raikkonen is the Finn’s second and last victory of the season. Hamilton settles for third behind Massa in a race of little incident.

Raikkonen: 1st/29; Hamilton: 3rd/20; Kubica: 4th/19; Massa: 2nd/18

May 11: Turkish Grand Prix, Istanbul

After being subjected to a Vodafone PR stunt that results in him “flying” on stage into a mock battle of Troy, Hamilton drives a strong race to finish second behind Massa.

Raikkonen: 3rd/35; Hamilton: 2nd/28; Massa: 1st/28; Kubica: 4th/24

May 25: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo

A wet race in which Hamilton gets away with a “kiss” on the barriers to become the first Englishman to win at Monte Carlo since 1969. Kubica is second while Massa, who ran wide at St Devote, finishes third. Adrian Sutil, the Force India driver, is on course for fourth place until Raikkonen crashes into the back of him exiting the tunnel.

Hamilton: 1st/38; Raikkonen: 9th/35; Massa: 3rd/34; Kubica: 2nd/32

June 8: Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal

After scoring his first Formula One win here in 2007, Hamilton looks to be on course to repeat that feat after securing pole and leading the race. Then comes one his worst errors when he crashes into the back of Raikkonen’s Ferrari at the end of the pitlane. Kubica takes his first and only win of season and leads the championship.

Kubica: 1st/42; Hamilton: DNF/38; Massa: 5th/38; Raikkonen: DNF/35

June 22: French Grand Prix, Magny-Cours

With a ten-place grid penalty from Canada to contend with, Hamilton starts from thirteenth and then incurs a drive-through penalty for overtaking across the curbs on a frustrating afternoon when he is pointless and drops to fourth in the title race. Massa takes advantage to win after Raikkonen’s engine loses power, relegating him to second place.

Massa: 1st/48 Kubica: 5th/46; Raikkonen: 2nd/43; Hamilton: 10th/38

July 6: British Grand Prix, Silverstone

A classic drive from Hamilton for the best win of his career at that point, in front of his home crowd on a day of constantly changing conditions. Storming away from fourth on the grid, he climbs to second and then takes Kovalainen on the fifth lap after which he is never under threat. While Hamilton is imperious, Massa endures one of his worst afternoons in a grand prix, spinning five times.

Hamilton: 1st/48; Massa: 13th/48 Raikkonen: 4th/48; Kubica: DNF/46

July 20: German Grand Prix, Hockenheim

In the early stages, Hamilton puts on a masterclass from pole. A safety-car interruption after a big crash for Timo Glock, in the Toyota, produces an error in strategy from McLaren and Hamilton drops to fifth after his second stop. With 16 laps to go, he fights his way back to take the win ahead of Nelson Piquet Jr in the Renault.

Hamilton: 1st/58; Massa: 3rd/54; Raikkonen: 6th/51; Kubica: 7th/48

Aug 3: Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungaroring

Hamilton grabs pole but Massa beats him into Turn 1. The Brazilian drives an immaculate race and is on course to win when his engine packs up three laps from the end. Hamilton, running second, picks up a puncture and ends up fifth while Kovalainen inherits his first win.

Hamilton: 5th/62; Raikkonen: 3rd/57; Massa: DNF/54; Kubica: 8th/49

Aug 24: European Grand Prix, Valencia

The new street track in Valencia delivers a dull race in sauna-like conditions. Massa drives from pole to flag to win while Hamilton settles for second. The British driver reveals afterwards that he had been suffering the after-effects of flu and had an injection for neck spasms early on the morning of qualifying.

Hamilton: 2nd/70; Massa: 1st/64; Raikkonen: DNF/57; Kubica: 3rd/55

Sept 7: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps

Spa hosts the most dramatic finish to a race in years as the rain comes down. Raikkonen is leading but Hamilton closes him down and the two join battle in a thrilling duel during which the “Iceman” crashes and Hamilton wins. The Briton is then sensationally demoted to third by the stewards, who believe that he gained an advantage by cutting the Bus Stop chicane. A later appeal against the ruling is thrown out on a technicality by the FIA.

Hamilton: 3rd/76; Massa: 1st/74; Kubica: 6th/58; Raikkonen: 18th/57

Sep 14: Italian Grand Prix, Monza

Two wrong weather calls by Hamilton and McLaren cost them dear. Hamilton starts from fifteenth and misses out on an improbable win when he has to pit for a second time as wet conditions early on give way to a dry finish. Hamilton has to settle for seventh, Massa is only one place better. Sebastian Vettel, in the Toro Rosso, becomes the youngest grand-prix winner in history.

Hamilton: 7th/78; Massa: 6th/77; Kubica: 3rd/64; Raikkonen: 9th/57

Sept 28: Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay

Formula One’s first night race is the showpiece of the season. After securing pole, Massa’s race is undone by a Ferrari pitlane fiasco when the mechanics send him away from his box with the fuel hose attached to his car. A safety-car interruption plays a big role. Fernando Alonso wins for Renault while Hamilton is third.

Hamilton: 3rd/84pts Massa: 13th/77pts Kubica: 11th/64pts Raikkonen: 15th/57pts

Oct 12: Japanese Grand Prix, Fuji Speedway

Going into the race with a seven-point lead and on pole, Hamilton makes a rash move on Raikkonen after being jumped at the start by the Finn. Hamilton then spins after taking on Massa. Both Hamilton and Massa earn drive-though penalties. The race is a disaster for Hamilton, who finishes twelfth.

Hamilton: 12th/84; Massa: 7th/79; Kubica: 2nd/72; Raikkonen: 3rd/63

Oct 19: Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai

On a weekend when he incurred a slating from Flavio Briatore, the team principal of Renault, Hamilton drives imperiously from pole to flag. Massa is let through by Raikkonen to take second place.

Kubica’s sixth place ends his slim title hopes.

Hamilton: 1st/94; Massa: 2nd/87; Kubica: 6th/75; Raikkonen: 3rd/69

Yesterday: Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos

Arguably the most dramatic end to a world-title race in Formula One history culminates in Hamilton becoming the sport’s youngest world champion. Running in sixth and with Massa on his way to victory, Hamilton’s heart was about to be broken for a second time. But at the penultimate corner, Hamilton passes Glock to claim fifth place - and the title.

Hamilton: 5th/98; Massa: 1st/97; Raikkonen: 3rd/75; Kubica: 11th/75