Lewis Hamilton's winning season in pictures

Australian grand prix: Lewis Hamilton kicked off his season with what he described as one of the ‘easiest wins of my career’ in Melbourne. Well, he did start from pole and cross the line over five seconds ahead of BMW’s Nick Heidfeld. Only seven cars – and that didn’t include Felipe Massa or Kimi Raikkonen – finished the race… Photograph: Torsten Blackwood/AFP

Malaysian grand prix: His charge quickly wilted in the heat of Sepang, however, as he was first hit with a grid penalty for blocking other drivers during qualifying. Determined to fight back in the race, he had a brilliant first stint until a sticky wheel nut in the first stop dropped him back and he came home fifth Photograph: Crispin Thruston/Action Images

Bahrain grand prix: a disastrous weekend began when Hamilton shunted his McLaren heavily in practice and things went from bad to worse when he fluffed his start by knocking the launch system into anti-stall. In 10th by the end of the first lap, he then lost his nose by rear-ending Fernando Alonso’s Renault. Result: 13th at the flag Photograph: Kerim Okten/EPA

Spanish grand prix: After the racism scandal at Barcelona testing, there was some nervousness ahead of the race, but it proved unfounded. Fifth was a poor qualifying result, however, in a weekend that belonged to Ferrari’s Raikkonen. As the Finn dominated from lights to flag, Hamilton fought his way up to third Photograph: Paul White/AP

Turkish grand prix: Embarrassed by duff PR stunt before grand prix, Hamilton shrugged it off to finish in second place, splitting the Ferraris, despite having to make an extra stop over tyre concerns. He masterfully withstood pressure from third-placed Raikkonen, who was anxious not to see his championship points lead cut Photograph: Ibrahim Usta/AP

Monaco grand prix: An Englishman hadn’t won Monaco since Graham Hill in 1969 and Hamilton’s victory was something of a close shave after clipping a wall and puncturing a tyre. Showers and safety cars played their part, but Hamilton drove superbly, at one point pulling out a 40-second lead, and left the race leading the championship Photograph: David Davies/PA

Canadian grand prix: From the sublime in Monte Carlo to the ridiculous in Montreal. Hamilton’s self-inflicted low-point of the season came when he slammed into the back of Raikkonen while the Ferrari was being held by a red light in the pit lane. Instant retirement for both, allowing Robert Kubica to take the win and the lead in the championship Photograph: Dom Emmert/AFP

French grand prix: A 10-place grid drop for his faux pas in Canadian meant Hamilton was starting on the back foot. The unhappy driver didn’t rise to the considerable challenge, straight-lining a corner and receiving a drive-through penalty. He finished 10th, fell to fourth in the standings and relations with the media hit a low point Photograph: David Vincent/AP

British grand prix: After two big errors and two non-scores, Hamilton had a lot to prove – but boy, did he do it in style on his home turf. As those around him, specifically Massa, lost their heads and control of their cars, Hamilton evoked memories of Ayrton Senna’s stunning 1993 drive in the wet at Donington with a season-redeeming victory Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty

German grand prix: Now in his stride, the Stevenage youngster was devastatingly quick at Hockenheim, winning from pole in a virtuoso display. The introduction of the safety car ruined his early lead and a mis-managed pit-stop strategy forced him to fight through the field, passing both Massa and Piquet to claim the flag Photograph: Torsten Silz/AFP

Hungarian grand prix: At the scene of his notorious 2007 feud with Alonso, Hamilton was forced to rely on good luck to protect his points lead. A damaged tyre wrecked his chances of a podium, with fifth the best he could do, but Massa’s retirement through a blown engine ensured the cloud over Hamilton's head had a silver lining Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty

European grand prix: The all-new Valencia street circuit promised so much, but delivered the dullest race of the season as Hamilton’s only drama unfolded within the cockpit; the 23 year-old battled neck spasms to claim second place behind Massa and extend his lead by a point Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty

Belgian grand prix: We don’t see many enthralling dices in Formula one these days, but Hamilton delivered one with his riveting dual with Raikkonen. Sadly, a few hours after the podium ceremony the stewards decided to strip him of his victory for benefiting from a cut chicane and Massa was handed the win Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

Italian grand prix: An inexplicably poor strategy during the damp qualifying session left him starting from 15th but in an excellent example of damage limitation he drove to seventh at the flag, angering Timo Glock and Mark Webber by banging wheels with them on his drive through the field Photograph: Bertrand Guay/AFP

Singapore grand prix: Hamilton used formula one’s first-ever night race to maintain his points advantage with a podium position, despite a safety car period, caused by Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr crashing, dropping him from second place down the field Photograph: Jens Buettner/EPA

Japanese grand prix: A race to forget as a desperately defensive move at the first corner, after Raikkonen had got the jump at the start, earned him a drive-through penalty. That wasn’t all, though, as Massa tipped him into a spin and he wound up 12th Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty

Chinese grand prix: After Fuji he needed to silence the critics and deliver a knock-out blow to Massa in the title race. He did both. A crushingly-quick victory ensured that he took a seven point advantage over Massa into the final encounter Photograph: David Davies/PA

Brazil grand prix: Lewis Hamilton (L) celebrates with McLaren team boss Ron Denis after winning the 2008 formula one drivers' championship after a dramatic final lap. Photograph: Bruno Domingos/Reuters

Brazilian grand prix: Hamilton takes the flag, and fifth position, to secure the title. He was sixth at the start of the last lap and looked set to lose out to Massa until Timo Glock slowed Photograph: ROLAND WEIHRAUCH/EPA

Brazilian grand prix: Hamilton is mobbed by his team after securing the title. He didn't finish on the podium but that didn't stop him celebrating Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Brazilian grand prix: Hamilton parties with brother Nic and father Anthony, who have supported him strongly throughout his racing career Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images