In his first year of Grand Prix 2 racing, Lewis Hamilton has taken the GP2 championship title from his closest rival, Nelson Piquet, Jr.
Hamilton finished behind Piquet in third position, and it looked like he would have to finish well in the Sunday race to clinch the title, as he needed one more point.
Later in the day, the stewards deemed the fastest lap from Giorgio Pantano was set during a yellow flag, and this then gave Hamilton the one point needed to take the title.
Ron Dennis (Hamilton's major sponsor) had nothing but praise for the new GP2 champion. "The manner of his many outstanding performances this year, such as those at Silverstone and Turkey, has been phenomenal and he is a deserving champion," he said. "His overall performance during the season gives you a definite sense of pride and satisfaction."
With the probability that Kimi Raikkonen will be leaving McLaren at the end of this year to join Ferrari, it has been suggested that Hamilton may take the second seat for the McLaren team.
“In due course the team's and Lewis’s plans for 2007 will be announced,” Dennis said. However word in the paddock says Hamilton will start in the F1 testing program alongside Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett.
Hamilton, however, did not need to be "given" the race by the stewards on Saturday, as he finished in second place in the Sunday race, and would have taken the title at that point.
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