Arguably the most dramatic end to a world title race in Formula One history culminated in Lewis Hamilton becoming the sport's youngest world champion.

As thunder boomed over Interlagos, and on a track becoming wetter by the second in the closing laps, Hamilton was on the verge of missing out.

Running in sixth and with title rival Felipe Massa running away with the expected race win, Hamilton's heart was about to be broken for a second time, as it was at this track a year ago.

But he can thank Toyota for taking the title as they failed to call in Timo Glock to take on wet tyres.

With the German still on dry rubber and running in fourth at the time, he slowly started to drop back.

Just one kilometre from the conclusion of the Brazilian Grand Prix, and at the penultimate corner, Hamilton passed Glock to claim fifth place - and with it the title.

Sporting drama does not come any greater than that witnessed in Sao Paulo today, leaving Hamilton to join a pantheon of greats.

Lewis Hamilton Factfile

1985: Born Tewin, Hertfordshire, January 7.

1995: British cadet class and STP karting champion.

1996: Wins the Champions of the Future, Sky TV KartMasters and Five Nations karting series.

1998: Competing in junior Intercontinental A, is second in McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future and fourth at the Italian Open. Confirms he will be supported by McLaren and Mercedes-Benz.

2006: Wins the GP2 Series.

September 13: Has first test in a McLaren Formula One car.

November 24: Confirmed as race driver for 2007 season for McLaren.

2007: March 18 - Finishes third on Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix.

April 15: After finishing second in Malaysia, Hamilton follows up with second in Bahrain to become the first driver in Formula One world championship history to finish on the podium in his first three races.

May 13: Another second in Spain makes Hamilton the youngest driver to hold the outright lead in the drivers' standings.

June 10: Claims first victory at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal after maiden pole.

June 17: Follows up with pole and win at United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis.

July 21: Taken to hospital after being involved in a 175mph smash in qualifying for the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. Finishes ninth in following day's race.

September 13: McLaren are fined £49.2million and docked all points in the constructors' championship as a result of the spy scandal, but drivers' individual points are untouched.

September 30: Wins Japanese Grand Prix in Fuji Speedway to open a 12-point gap over Alonso with two races remaining.

October 7: Slides into a gravel trap on severely worn tyres and retires from Chinese Grand Prix.

October 21: Loses the title by a point to Raikkonen in Brazil where he can only finish seventh due to a gearbox problem early in the race.

2008: January 18 - Signs new five-year contract through to 2012, worth around £10million per year.

March 16: Wins Australian Grand Prix.

May 25: Takes second win of the year at a rain-hit Monaco, despite clipping a barrier and puncturing a tyre early on.

June 8: Crashes into the back of Raikkonen in the pit lane in the Canadian Grand Prix, sending both out and incurring a 10-place grid penalty for following race in France.

July 6: Wins a rain-lashed British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

July 20: Seals back-to-back victories for the first time in 13 months at German Grand Prix.

September 7: Wins Belgian Grand Prix at Spa but is later dropped to third after

a retrospective 25-second drive-through penalty for cutting a chicane.

October 12: Handed a drive-through penalty for forcing Raikkonen off the track at the first corner of the Japanese Grand Prix, and is then driven into by Felipe Massa. Finishes 12th.

October 19: Moves a step closer to the title with victory in China.

November 2: Becomes youngest world champion in Formula One history after finishing fifth in the Brazilian Grand Prix.