The 2007 Formula 1 season was one of the most dramatic in history, featuring a three-way title battle between Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen and McLaren teammates Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. The season was also marred by the McLaren-Ferrari espionage scandal (Stepneygate), which resulted in McLaren being fined $100 million and excluded from the Constructors' Championship. Rookie Lewis Hamilton stunned the paddock with an extraordinary debut season, while Kimi Räikkönen ultimately claimed the Drivers' Championship by a single point in a thrilling finale in Brazil.
Kimi Räikkönen won the Australian Grand Prix on his debut for Ferrari, starting from pole position and dominating the race. Rookie Lewis Hamilton finished third on his Formula 1 debut, marking the beginning of a remarkable season.
Fernando Alonso won the Monaco Grand Prix ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, with both McLarens finishing over a minute ahead of third-placed Felipe Massa. Post-race, Hamilton made comments suggesting team orders were in play, sparking controversy about whether McLaren had favored Alonso.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council held its first hearing into the McLaren-Ferrari espionage controversy. McLaren was found to be in breach of the International Sporting Code for possessing confidential Ferrari technical documents, but no penalty was applied at this stage as insufficient evidence of use was found.
In qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso deliberately held up teammate Lewis Hamilton in the pit lane, preventing Hamilton from completing his final flying lap. Alonso was demoted five grid places, and McLaren was stripped of their constructors' points for the race. Hamilton went on to win the race.
Following new evidence, the FIA World Motor Sport Council found McLaren guilty of using Ferrari confidential information. McLaren was fined a record $100 million, excluded from the 2007 Constructors' Championship, and their drivers' points were left intact. This decision dramatically shaped the remainder of the season.
Lewis Hamilton won a rain-affected Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway, held in treacherous conditions that saw the race start behind the safety car. Hamilton demonstrated extraordinary skill in the wet, extending his championship lead. The race was also notable for a collision between Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber behind the safety car.
Lewis Hamilton's championship lead was dramatically cut when he slid into the gravel trap at the pit lane entrance, retiring from the Chinese Grand Prix. Kimi Räikkönen won the race, closing to within seven points of Hamilton and setting up a three-way title decider in Brazil between Hamilton, Alonso, and Räikkönen.
Kimi Räikkönen won the Brazilian Grand Prix and clinched the Drivers' Championship by a single point, overcoming a 17-point deficit over the final two races. Lewis Hamilton's race was compromised by an early gearbox problem, and Fernando Alonso could only finish third. Räikkönen finished with 110 points to Hamilton and Alonso's 109 each, making it one of the closest championship finishes in Formula 1 history.
