Formula 1 - How the drivers' championship unfolded

Australia
Kimi Raikkonen takes pole, victory and fastest lap on his Ferrari debut. Reigning champion Fernando Alonso is second in his maiden McLaren outing. Team mate Lewis Hamilton becomes the first driver in history to score a podium in his first Grand Prix.
Standings: Raikkonen 10, Alonso 8, Hamilton 6

Malaysia
McLaren up the ante, with Alonso leading Hamilton home for a one-two finish ahead of Raikkonen. Alonso takes the championship lead.
Standings: Alonso 18, Raikkonen 16, Hamilton 14

Bahrain
Felipe Massa takes his first Ferrari win of the season, ahead of Hamilton and Raikkonen. Alonso comes home fifth, leaving a three-way tie at the top of the table.
Standings: Alonso 22, Raikkonen 22, Hamilton 22

Spain
Massa makes it two on the trot, while Hamilton beats Alonso to second on the Spaniard’s home turf to take the championship lead for the first time. Raikkonen retires with electrical problems.
Standings: Hamilton 30, Alonso 28, Raikkonen 22

Monaco
Amid allegations of team orders, Alonso beats Hamilton and the pair leave the Principality level on points. Raikkonen’s challenge looks to be fading after he finishes eighth.
Standings: Alonso 38, Hamilton 38, Raikkonen 23

Canada
After an already record-breaking podium run, Hamilton clinches his first Formula One win. Fifth for Raikkonen and only seventh for Alonso means the rookie takes an eight-point lead to Indianapolis.
Standings: Hamilton 48, Alonso 40, Raikkonen 27

United States
Pole position and another win sees Hamilton extend his advantage to 10 points over Alonso, who crosses the line second. Raikkonen’s fourth place sees him fall 26 points off the lead.
Standings: Hamilton 58, Alonso 48, Raikkonen 32

France
Raikkonen keeps himself in contention with his second win of the season. Massa makes it a Ferrari one-two, while third for Hamilton extends his championship lead over Alonso - who finishes seventh - to 14 points.
Standings: Hamilton 64, Alonso 50, Raikkonen 42

Britain
Win number three for Raikkonen, putting him back within 20 points of leader Hamilton, who is beaten to second place in his home race by Alonso.
Standings: Hamilton 70, Alonso 58, Raikkonen 52

Europe
Alonso victorious in dramatic wet-dry race. After nine successive podiums, Hamilton fails to score for the first time and sees his advantage slashed to just two points. Raikkonen retires with hydraulic problems.
Standings: Hamilton 70, Alonso 68, Raikkonen 52

Hungary
After their infamous qualifying run-in, Hamilton inherits pole from Alonso, who is demoted to fifth on the grid. The rookie converts it to victory to pull away from his team mate in the table once more. Raikkonen takes second, Alonso fourth.
Standings: Hamilton 80, Alonso 73, Raikkonen 60

Turkey
Massa beats Raikkonen for a Ferrari one-two, with Alonso third. A puncture forces a damage-limitation exercise from Hamilton, who trails home in fifth.
Standings: Hamilton 84, Alonso 79, Raikkonen 68

Italy
Alonso has the edge over Hamilton as McLaren route Ferrari on the Italians’ home turf. It puts them just three points apart with four rounds remaining. Raikkonen finishes a distant third.
Standings: Hamilton 92, Alonso 89, Raikkonen 74

Belgium
Raikkonen wins in commanding fashion from Massa, with Alonso third and Hamilton fourth. The gap shrinks to just two points.
Standings: Hamilton 97, Alonso 95, Raikkonen 84

Japan
Hamilton weathers the Fuji storm to win, extending his championship lead to 12 points after Alonso crashes out. Raikkonen’s third place keeps him in the hunt - just.
Standings: Hamilton 107, Alonso 95, Raikkonen 90

China
Hamilton fails to wrap things up, instead sliding out on worn tyres. Raikkonen and Alonso take full advantage, finishing first and second to set up a three-way title showdown at the final round.
Standings: Hamilton 107, Alonso 103, Raikkonen 100

Brazil
It all goes wrong for Hamilton, who can only finish seventh after gearbox gremlins. Raikkonen secures the win, and with Massa depriving Alonso of second, the rank outsider becomes champion.
Standings: Raikkonen 110, Hamilton 109, Alonso 109