STORY OF THE DAY: Shanghai Keeps the Championship Alive

Kimi Raikkonen won the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai in the number 6 Ferrari F2007, finishing ahead of Fernando Alonso and teammate Felipe Massa. His fifth victory of the season ensured that the Drivers’ Championship would remain undecided until the Brazilian finale. It was also Ferrari’s 200th victory in a World Championship Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton led the early stages on a drying circuit, but his intermediate tyres deteriorated badly as McLaren delayed his stop. Raikkonen applied sustained pressure and passed when Hamilton ran wide. Hamilton then slid into the gravel at the pit-lane entrance and retired, leaving Raikkonen to control the remaining distance and revive a title challenge that had appeared nearly finished.

The F2007 used a carbon-fibre composite monocoque, Ferrari’s 2.4-litre Tipo 056 V8 and a seven-speed transmission. Its relatively long wheelbase and carefully developed aerodynamics provided a stable platform, while strong reliability supported Ferrari’s successful campaign for the Constructors’ Championship.

Finnish driver Raikkonen entered Formula One with Sauber after limited single-seater experience and became a championship contender during five seasons at McLaren. He joined Ferrari in 2007 as Michael Schumacher’s successor. His calm execution in difficult Shanghai conditions positioned him to complete an extraordinary championship recovery at the next race.