(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-18 13:50

Even if Ferrari had to wait several weeks after the end of the season to be sure of both titles, thanks to a McLaren appeal that was ultimately thrown out, they had plenty to celebrate.

Raikkonen, with Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa allowed to race him freely, stepped into the shoes of retired seven-times champion Michael Schumacher and won more races than anyone else.

He even found time to take part in a powerboat race in Finland while disguised in a gorilla suit.

Those who suspected Ferrari would go into decline following the departure of Schumacher and technical director Ross Brawn were wrong. By mid-season, the great German was almost a distant memory while Brawn was preparing to return with Honda.

Hamilton, the first black Formula One driver, made sure Schumacher was not missed. The British youngster opened his career with an unprecedented rookie performance of nine podiums in a row and four wins.

Like Tiger Woods in golf before him, Hamilton showed a composure and maturity that made his talent the talking point rather than his race.

He led the championship from the third race to the last, his success reflected in his relationship with Alonso -- who also had some electrifying races -- becoming increasingly tense.

Never before in 58 years of the championship had a driver come as close as Hamilton did to winning the title at the first attempt. He still beat Alonso overall, despite finishing level on points.

If a combination of inexperience, over-confidence, bad luck and the mistakes of his team cost Hamilton the crown, then Alonso could argue that he was equally thwarted only by McLaren's refusal to focus their efforts on him.

The bad blood between the Spaniard and his team became another major talking point, with the two sides barely speaking to each other after a stand-up row in Hungary in August.

Nobody outside McLaren and Ferrari stood on top of the podium, with former champions Renault falling back down the pecking order while BMW Sauber emerged as a third force with Germany's Nick Heidfeld and Poland's Robert Kubica.

Kubica provided a reminder that, despite all the controversies and accusations, Formula One could have had it a lot worse in 2007.

The Pole speared into a concrete wall in Canada and, thanks to ever improving safety measures, emerged unscathed.

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