In 2008, Lewis Hamilton won his first World Championship by a single point. He clinched it at the last corner of the last lap of the last race of the season in Brazil, passing Timo Glock to grab the fifth place he needed while Felipe Massa crossed the line ahead, believing for a few seconds he was champion. Final tally: Hamilton 98, Massa 97. That is the F1 points system at its most brutal, a whole year decided by one point.
Points are awarded at every Grand Prix, the driver and team with the most at the end of the year are champions, and the system is simpler than it looks. Here is exactly how the scoring works.
