Formula One / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 03 November 2008 / Leave a comment

Lewis Hamilton drifted to odds of [16.0] on Betfair to be Formula One World Champion during the final lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix but kept his cool on the final few corners to overtake Timo Glock and grab the fifth-place finish he needed to wrap up the title.

The McLaren driver was the [1.32] favourite to be crowned champion at the start of the race and around the [7.0] mark to win in Brazil, with his rival Felipe Massa a [4.0] chance to be crowned champion and just [1.85] to win on his home circuit.

Despite Massa leading the race for almost its entirety, Hamilton traded at around the [1.08] mark to be champion as he looked certain to get the points he needed. But the man from Stevenage was overtaken on the final lap by Glock and drifted to [16.0] to be World Champion, with Massa trading at a low of [1.1] before Hamilton overtook Glock to secure the points he was after.

Hamilton's win, in particular the manner of it, has propelled him to favouritism for the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year award on Betfair where he is now just an [1.71] chance. Rebecca Adlington at [3.75] and Chris Hoy at [6.6] are his most likely rivals.

Betting summary of prices to be World Champion during the race:

At the off

Hamilton - [1.32]
Massa - [4.0]

Midway through the race

Hamilton - [1.08]
Massa- [9.0]

Three laps to go (18:43)

Hamilton - [1.28]
Massa - [4.0]

Final Lap (18:45), Hamilton is overtaken

Hamilton - [3.0]
Massa- [1.5]

Midway through final lap, (18:46), Hamilton behind Glock

Hamilton- [16.0]
Massa - [1.1]

As Hamilton crosses the line

Hamilton - [1.32]
Massa - [4.0]