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?

“I thought my heart was going to explode.” So said Lewis Hamilton of the moment when he thought that the World Championship was slipping from his grasp for the second year running.

In the McLaren garage, the team were making furious calculations but the family, led by Lewis, were facing up to another disaster as he embarked on the last lap 13 seconds behind Timo Glock. They were 13 seconds which Hamilton did not believe he could make up.

At the time, he thought that he had to overtake Sebastian Vettel, who had slipped past a couple of laps earlier, but Hamilton could not get close to his Toro Rosso rival.

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“I was pushing to get close to Sebastian, who was very quick,” he said. “It just got harder and harder and I heard that I had to get past him and I was pushing but I couldn’t get close enough.

“I didn’t know where Glock was and Vettel was the guy to beat. I couldn’t catch him, so at that point I was going to finish sixth. My heart was in my mouth. I don’t know how I kept my cool. I don’t know what would have happened if I had lost out on the last lap.”

It was so close that Hamilton did not realise he was world champion for several seconds after he crossed the line. “I was shouting ‘Do I have it? Do I have it?’ In the McLaren garage, the celebrations were led by Hamilton’s family including Anthony, his father, and Nicolas, his brother.

Hamilton has often cited Nic as his main inspiration for the way he not only copes with cerebral palsy but remains so positive.

“I often try to imagine myself in Nic’s position,” Lewis said. “I do not think I would be anywhere near as strong as him. There’s just so much to admire in him. So, whatever I am doing, I say to myself ‘If you think it is hard to do this then think again’. ” Victory was even sweeter for being secured in the home town of the late Ayrton Senna, the Formula One legend and Hamilton’s boyhood hero.

“I’m very emotional, I’ve cried,” Hamilton said. “My heart’s feeling so much strain right now. I think first and foremost of my family and then I thank God because he was with me all year as he always is.”

The championship was vindication for the support of Ron Dennis, the McLaren team principal, who was approached by the young Hamilton when he was still a schoolboy.

“It’s a fairytale story that he gave me that opportunity years ago and he had the foresight to bring me in and groom me to get to this position,” Hamilton said. “I’ve paid him back in full, so I’m happy with that.”

If Hamilton retains his crown, Dennis will owe him a limited- edition £2 million McLaren F1 LM — top speed 225mph — which was promised if he won two championships. He has the front half.

Numbers for the No 1

9 Consecutive podium finishes in his first year making Lewis Hamilton the most successful rookie in Formula One. It is also his total of grand prix victories

2 The number of “trebles” achieved by Hamilton - combining pole position, victory and fastest lap

207 The number of points racked up by Hamilton in his two seasons