Kimi Raikkonen of the Ferrari team became the world Formula One champion on Sunday, after winning the Brazil Grand Prix ahead of second-placed teammate Felipe Massa and Spain's Fernando Alonso who was third.

The big upset of the race was Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, who came to Brazil as the competition leader and started in second position, and ended in seventh.

Race commentators said that McLaren had the race to give away, while the same commentators said that Raikkonen, who started in third, needed a miracle to win the trophy.

The so-called miracle was a mistake made by Hamiliton at the start of the race, followed by gearbox problems for both McLaren drivers. It was the second time McLaren had let the championship slip. The team had also missed its chance in China.

Raikkonen, 28 and twice second-place winner, won his first Formula One world championship in his first year with Ferrari, which won the team trophy after two years without a serious win.

Ferrari Formula One Kimi Raikkonen of Finland celebrates after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo on Oct. 21, 2007. [Photo: sina.com]

Ferrari Formula One Kimi Raikkonen of Finland celebrates after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo on Oct. 21, 2007. [Photo: sina.com]

Ferrari Formula One Kimi Raikkonen of Finland celebrates on the podium after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo Oct. 21, 2007. [Photo: sina.com]

Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland sprays champagne on the podium of the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo Oct. 21, 2007. [Photo: sina.com]

Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and teammate Felipe Massa of Brazil celebrate after finishing the race one-two in the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo Oct. 21, 2007. [Photo:sina.com]

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2007)