2007 Malaysian Grand Prix
The 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race, held on 8 April 2007 at the Sepang International Circuit and the second race of the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship. Reigning world champion Fernando Alonso won the race from second on the grid, with McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton finishing second. This marked McLaren's first one-two finish since the 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix. Previous race winner Kimi Räikkönen finished third. Räikkönen's Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa started the race from pole position, but was passed by both McLarens in the first two corners of the first lap, eventually finishing in fifth place behind BMW's Nick Heidfeld.
The tyres shown above do not have a stripe and therefore are the harder compound (officially named the 'prime' tyre). The tyres shown below have the white stripe indicating they are using the softer compound (the 'option' tyre).
Fernando Alonso won the race; his first victory for McLaren.
Felipe Massa was unable to get past Nick Heidfeld after losing time due to a mistake while attempting to pass Lewis Hamilton earlier in the race.
Lewis Hamilton kept Kimi Räikkönen's Ferrari at bay to score McLaren's first one-two since the 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix.
2007 Formula One World Championship
The 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 61st season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship, which began on 18 March and ended on 21 October after seventeen events. The Drivers' Championship was won by Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen by one point at the final race of the season, making Räikkönen the third Finnish driver to take the title. An appeal by McLaren regarding the legality of some cars in the final race could have altered the championship standings, but on 16 November, the appeal was rejected by the International Court of Appeal, confirming the championship results. Räikkönen entered the final race in third position in the drivers' standings, but emerged as champion after the chequered flag, a feat first accomplished by Giuseppe Farina in 1950.
Kimi Räikkönen, the 2007 World Drivers' Champion with 110 points, won the title in his first year with Ferrari. He remains the last Ferrari driver to win a championship.
Lewis Hamilton, runner-up with 109 points. Hamilton recorded nine consecutive podium finishes in his debut season, more than any other rookie in Formula One history. He also became the youngest runner-up until Sebastian Vettel in 2009.
Fernando Alonso, the defending double World Champion, also recorded 109 points but was placed 3rd through count-back.
Kimi Räikkönen (pictured in 2002) left McLaren at the end of the 2006 season to join Ferrari before the season.
