Results of the 2007 Chinese F1 Grand Prix

In rain washed Beijing, the title could have been wrapped up by Lewis Hamilton but he crashed out, gifting Raikkonen 10 points for the win and other title contender Fernando Alonso eight points for second. This sets up the most exciting finish in recent F1 history, with all three capable of winning the title in Brazil.

Hamilton has the edge on 107 points, Alonso who is on 103 - will have to win and/or finish three places ahead of him to take it, while the Finn needs to rely on both the McLaren drivers finishing worse than sixth and taking the chequered flag for himself to take a surprise victory for Ferrari. He has five victories this season to the others' four each.

Although the three-horse race seemed like a foregone conclusion as Hamilton headed for second, the pole-sitter made an uncharacteristic error and slid into the gravel upon entering the pits on lap 30, ending his race. Raikkonen had already snatched the lead on the previous lap as his tyres held up better to the wet conditions, and it was left to Alonso to unsuccessfully close the 15 second gap.

Finishing behind them was a Felipe Massa in the other Ferrari, who lost a place to Alonso after his first pit stop, but the real surprises where fourth placed Sebastian Vettel and a fifth for Jenson Button. The rookie German benefited from a one-stop strategy while Button fought his way up through the field for his only notable finish of the season.

Vitantonio Luizzi was another unusual points finisher, in sixth place for a fantastic weekend for Torro Rosso, while Nick Heidfeld had to settle for seventh for BMW-Sauber ahead of David Coulthard in the Red Bull. Anthony Davidson, Adrian Sutil Ralph Schumacher and Robert Kubica all retired in the downpour that dominated the second wet race Asia has produced in as many races.

There was no significant change to the Constructors' Title, which was won by default by Ferrari after McLaren were stripped of their points. BMW-Sauber and Renault are guaranteed second and third respectively but only four points separate Williams and Red Bull for fourth and fifth. The Drivers' Title and top three finishers will be decided in the penultimate race at Interlagos on October 21 st , but Felipe Massa will finish fourth ahead of Nick Heidfeld, regardless of the result.

Results from Chinese Grand Prix:

1 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari one hour 37 minutes 58.395 seconds
2 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes at 9.8 seconds
3 Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari at 12.8 seconds
4 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari at 53.5 seconds
5 Jenson Button (GB) Honda at 1:08.6secs
6 Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso-Ferrari at 1:13.6
7 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber at 1:14.2
8 David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault at 1:20.7
9 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault at 1:21.1
10 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault at 1:24.6
11 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault at 1:26.6
12 Alexander Wurz (Aut) Williams-Toyota one lap behind
13 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota one lap
14 Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda one lap
15 Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda one lap
16 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota two laps
17 Sakon Yamamoto (Jpn) Spyker three laps
R 18 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 33 laps completed
19 Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 30 laps
20 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 25 laps
21 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Spyker-Ferrari 24 laps
22 Anthony Davidson (GB) Super Aguri 11 laps