Grapevine: Straw Poll: Sunday at Interlagos

When a deluge soaked part of the track less than five minutes before the scheduled start of the Brazilian Grand Prix, you knew it was going to serve up something special. Fears that the title denouement might be a little predictable, proved to be unfounded. Spectacularly so.

Just as in the Ferrari garage - a corner of which celebrated Massa's title victory as he crossed the line - there were some in the media centre ready to file stories proclaiming the home hero champion on number of race victories. Then, Hamilton blasted past the slick-shod Timo Glock into the final "real" corner of the lap to earn the most important fifth place he will ever take.

It couldn't have been more dramatic, and there was plenty of sympathy for Massa as he stood on the podium having a few minutes earlier had one hand on the world title.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis perhaps summed it up best. Even after not far off three decades running McLaren, he still has the passion that the team's somewhat clinical public image sometimes shrouds.

"It's one of the best finishes to a world championship ever," he said less than an hour after the dramatic finish. "I just love Formula One."

There was no controversy, no protest and, above all, undoubtedly the most dramatic final 30 seconds of a world title fight in the almost six-decade history of the world championship.

Massa wasn't the only one you had to feel a little sorry for. Glock, who finished his very impressive first full season in F1 with another points finish, was the man at the centre of the drama.

Staying on slicks in the rain, he was dog slow on the final lap and inevitably some wanted to suggest that he could have done more to keep Hamilton behind. For the record, he had enough on his plate just keeping his Toyota on the track.

"I didn't know that I was the magic rule in the championship and in the end, I didn't look for that," said Glock.

Although one Toyota employee suggested that there were a few tens of thousands of Brazilians wanting to tear Timo limb from limb, it seems the former GP2 champion will live to fight another day!

And so to Massa. Not only do you have to feel sorry for him, but you have to give him credit for the way he has conducted himself on and off track. After such a roller-coaster of emotions, he still managed to maintain the affable dignity which does him so much credit.

"I know how to win and I know how to lose," he said. "It is another day of my life. I will learn a lot from this day but I am very emotional."

But, for all that Massa has impressed this season, it has ultimately proved to be Hamilton's year. Few doubt it's the first of many titles, but not even Lewis can seal a title in more dramatic fashion. Can he?