Feature
Classic onboard - ride with Glock for the dramatic final lap of Brazil ‘08
Share
Much has been written about Timo Glock and the part he played in deciding the destiny of the 2008 drivers’ crown, but how did the final lap - when he was passed, crucially, by eventual championship Lewis Hamilton - look from his perspective? We join the slick-shod German for a precarious tour of Interlagos in the wet…
For 20 tantalising seconds, Felipe Massa was champion of the world - and then it happened. Entering the uphill left-hander at Juncao, Lewis Hamilton guided his McLaren up the inside of Timo Glock’s Toyota to take fifth place and the four points he needed to tilt the battle for the drivers’ crown decisively back in his favour. Massa’s supporters - and many of the local and Italian media - were incredulous - how had this happened? Many even suspected foul play. But as explained by Glock, and as is clear in the exclusive onboard video of his final lap, Hamilton’s unforgettable late pass was simply down to him being on intermediates and Glock being on slicks - nothing more, nothing less. "I actually told the team on the radio that I wanted to come into the pits to change on to wet tyres but they answered that the pits were blocked and there was no chance to get in," explained Glock. "I had no chance to resist the guys on wet tyres because they were just so much quicker. I had to stay off the racing line because there was so much tyre rubber on it, which becomes incredibly slippery in the wet. I was just driving my line where it was safest with dry tyres and, if Lewis had not overtaken me in that corner, he would have overtaken me on the following straight because there was no way I could go flat out on the dry tyres. I don't know how anyone can think that I just pulled over.”
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
News ‘We have lost any sense of proportion’ – Stella's verdict on penalty that dropped Norris out of contention in Qatar
News Alpine confirm Doohan to race in Abu Dhabi as Ocon is released
Feature ANALYSIS: Why Alpine chose to release Ocon with one race left and give Doohan his debut in Abu Dhabi
Video HIGHLIGHTS: Relive the action from a thrilling Qatar Grand Prix as Verstappen wins ahead of Leclerc and Piastri