EVEN after the drama of an action-packed 2007 season, the Brazilian Grand Prix shadowed all that came before it in terms of theatre.

You really could not have written a script for what happened on Sunday in Brazil. Certainly, no one seriously predicted that the outsider of the three contenders - Kimi Raikkonen - would become the drivers' champion.

He deserves to be the champion. He drove a champion's race to score his sixth victory of the season. His McLaren rivals, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, each won four.

Ultimately, it was team spirit that made the difference.

After overcoming a mid-season dip in form and reliability problems, Raikkonen's performance was stunning in the latter half of the season.

With the exception of a retirement in Germany, the Finn has been on the podium for every race since the French Grand Prix in July.

Wins in Belgium and China, along with a podium place in Japan, contributed just as much to the title as his victory in Brazil.

That steady improvement in performance was no accident. At the end of the day, in contrast to the dysfunctional McLaren camp, it was the Ferrari teamwork that made his dream come true.

"I love this team," said Raikkonen. "This has been a year for me during which I have enjoyed Formula One like never before. In Ferrari, I have found a great family.

"Even when we went through some difficult times, and it looked as though there was no way to fight back, we never gave up. This work produced its reward today."

In a way, the race in Brazil was a microcosm of the latter half of 2007. As soon as the field launched off the start line, the two Ferraris grabbed the leading places of the race. Behind them, the two McLarens jostled among themselves with Hamilton, in particular, losing ground to his rivals.

McLaren had arrived in Sao Paulo with the championship in easy reach. But it slipped from their grasp.

In fairness to Alonso, for all his off-track histrionics, he did not put a wheel out of place in Sunday's race. But, after his accident in the Japanese rain, he left himself too much to do in the points race.

And what of Hamilton? Well, the immediate thought is to feel gutted for the guy.

He was in a tough position in Brazil. He did not make the best start, and was edged out of the top four on the opening lap. Even then, he was still looking good for the title until the McLaren-Mercedes, till then the most reliable car on the grid, let him down.

The electronics problem put the car's gearbox into neutral, and cost Hamilton 30 seconds.

But, equally, the team's decision to switch him to a three-pit stop strategy possibly did even more damage to his championship hopes than his car's gremlins.

The decision to stop him earlier than expected, and put his car on the extra-soft tyres to gain some track places, was made under extreme pressure in the heat of the moment.

That advantage though, was lost again when he had to make a third stop, while those rivals he had just passed made two.

Just as with the too-tardy decision to change his tyres in the rain-soaked Japanese race, it seemed that a cool head was lacking on the McLaren pit wall.

Teamwork, so long a McLaren strong point, proved their undoing in Brazil.

Hamilton, as always, was triumphant in adversity. His aggressive overtaking was a highlight of the race as he fought back from 18th place.

His demeanour after the race, too, was again exemplary. He refused to say a word of criticism against his team.

"I was runner-up in the world championship and beat my teammate, the two-time world champion, in difficult circumstances," he said.

"That was my goal at the beginning. It's 22 weeks to the next race, and I'll go into next season with my head held high."

Certainly, missing out on the title seemed to have its pros. Hamilton was last seen being consoled by supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Raikkonen, meanwhile, was threatening to "party for a month".

But the drama in Brazil is still not over. The Iceman might yet have to put some of his champagne on ice.

A few hours after the race, news broke that the Williams and BMW teams, whose drivers finished fourth, fifth, sixth and 10th respectively, had been investigated by the stewards for alleged technical irregularities surrounding their fuel.

Had they been excluded, then Hamilton would have been promoted to fourth, scoring 112 championship points, putting him two ahead of Raikkonen.

The relevant regulations date back to the 1990s, and govern the temperature of the fuel during the pit stop.

It was designed to prevent teams chilling the fuel to make it denser, meaning you could squeeze more into the tank.

It was a risky business, and any problems during a pit stop could result in a fireball.

Since then, the rules have stated that the temperature of the fuel in the pits has to be within 10 deg C of the ambient.

In Brazil, that was a scorching 63 deg C and, briefly, the temperature difference in the BMW and Williams fuel rigs was more than 10 deg C below that.

The FIA stewards accepted that neither team had tried to gain any advantage and were prepared to drop the matter.

But McLaren have protested that decision, which could mean that Raikkonen's title might not be confirmed until the FIA Court of Appeal meets in December.

Given the way the FIA has treated McLaren over the past months, one can understand the team's insistence on forcing every legality.

But, surely, Hamilton would not want to win the title that way.

And, surely, that will not affect Raikkonen. He will probably still be partying!