Italy hails Ferrari win
Ferrari-mad Italy is going wild after Kimi Raikkonen won the Brazilian Grand Prix to clinch a thrilling catch-up race for the Formula One title.
Commentators said victory was all the sweeter after a year of adversity that included industrial espionage and a last-minute fuel mystery that put the Finn's newly won title at risk.
I See Red was the title in La Gazzetta dello Sport which said Ferrari Magic in Brazil, adding: "Fuel mystery fizzles out overnight".
Corriere dello Sport said Ferrari, The Most Beautiful Triumph after Raikkonen leapfrogged McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to win the title by a point - only to face "the umpteenth challenge of the season, allegedly irregular tyre temperatures in the Saubers and Williams".
If the three cars had been disqualified, Briton Hamilton would have moved up the rankings and become champion.
Ferrari Suffers And Triumphs said Corriere della Sera, which added: "four hours of mystery, then the victory".
La Repubblica said: Raikkonen Win Shrouded in Doubt - But Triumph Comes.
La Stampa said: Raikkonen Wins, Inquiry into Saubers and Williams, Hamilton Hopes But In The End Stays Seventh.
Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo said on Italian radio: "Our strength is that we never give up." Montezemolo, who is also head of Ferrari's parent Fiat, admitted: "I'd be lying if I said I thought we were going to win".
"The last twist in a poisoned year turned out to be in vain," he went on, referring to the fuel issue.
"In the end justice prevailed over unfairness," Montezemolo said, rejoicing in Ferrari's 15th drivers' championship.
As Ferrari fans celebrated across the country, Italian president Giorgio Napolitano joined in. "Compliments to Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa and all the team at Ferrari for an extraordinary victory in difficult circumstances," he said in a statement.
Ferrari had to come from behind after a mid-season McLaren rush that saw Hamilton poised to become the first rookie to win the title.
McLaren was stripped of the constructors' title after Ferrari technical documents were found in its hands, but while Ferrari won the constructor's title, McLaren's drivers suffered no penalties. This was widely seen as an injustice by Ferrari fans.
Hamilton kept winning until the second-last race in China when he spun off and Raikkonen won. This set up a thrilling three-man race in the Brazilian Grand Prix with Hamilton hot favourite on 107 points, seven points ahead of Raikkonen. Two-time and reigning world champ Alonso of Spain was second on 103. But Raikkonen won the race thanks to team-mate Felipe Massa who kept Alonso in third.
Hamilton, after a mistake and mechanical problems, could do no better than 7th - and his revived hopes over the fuel affair were ultimately dashed.
Ferrari-mad Italy is going wild after Kimi Raikkonen won the Brazilian Grand Prix to clinch a thrilling catch-up race for the Formula One title.
Commentators said victory was all the sweeter after a year of adversity that included industrial espionage and a last-minute fuel mystery that put the Finn's newly won title at risk.
I See Red was the title in La Gazzetta dello Sport which said Ferrari Magic in Brazil, adding: "Fuel mystery fizzles out overnight".
Corriere dello Sport said Ferrari, The Most Beautiful Triumph after Raikkonen leapfrogged McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to win the title by a point - only to face "the umpteenth challenge of the season, allegedly irregular tyre temperatures in the Saubers and Williams".
If the three cars had been disqualified, Briton Hamilton would have moved up the rankings and become champion.
Ferrari Suffers And Triumphs said Corriere della Sera, which added: "four hours of mystery, then the victory".
La Repubblica said: Raikkonen Win Shrouded in Doubt - But Triumph Comes.
La Stampa said: Raikkonen Wins, Inquiry into Saubers and Williams, Hamilton Hopes But In The End Stays Seventh.
Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo said on Italian radio: "Our strength is that we never give up." Montezemolo, who is also head of Ferrari's parent Fiat, admitted: "I'd be lying if I said I thought we were going to win".
"The last twist in a poisoned year turned out to be in vain," he went on, referring to the fuel issue.
"In the end justice prevailed over unfairness," Montezemolo said, rejoicing in Ferrari's 15th drivers' championship.
As Ferrari fans celebrated across the country, Italian president Giorgio Napolitano joined in. "Compliments to Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa and all the team at Ferrari for an extraordinary victory in difficult circumstances," he said in a statement.
Ferrari had to come from behind after a mid-season McLaren rush that saw Hamilton poised to become the first rookie to win the title.
McLaren was stripped of the constructors' title after Ferrari technical documents were found in its hands, but while Ferrari won the constructor's title, McLaren's drivers suffered no penalties. This was widely seen as an injustice by Ferrari fans.
Hamilton kept winning until the second-last race in China when he spun off and Raikkonen won. This set up a thrilling three-man race in the Brazilian Grand Prix with Hamilton hot favourite on 107 points, seven points ahead of Raikkonen. Two-time and reigning world champ Alonso of Spain was second on 103. But Raikkonen won the race thanks to team-mate Felipe Massa who kept Alonso in third.
Hamilton, after a mistake and mechanical problems, could do no better than 7th - and his revived hopes over the fuel affair were ultimately dashed.
