Hamburg - Former racing greats have been lining up to praise Lewis Hamilton following the McLaren-Mercedes driver's achievement in becoming the youngest Formula One world champion.

Hamilton, at the age of 23 years and 300 days, pipped Ferrari's Felipe Massa to the title by a single point after passing Timo Glock of Toyota on the last lap to finish fifth in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo.

"That was the most exciting Formula One race I have ever seen in my life and it was for the world title," said Damon Hill, the last Briton to be crowned world champion in 1996.

Hamburg - There was a sigh of relief in Lewis Hamilton's native Great Britain on Monday amid a common agreement around the world that the sport of Formula One had never seen a more dramatic finale.

"Phew Lew," titled The Sun after Hamilton had claimed the world title over Felipe Massa in a "final lap drama" of the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday.

French paper Le Figaro named Hamilton "world champion of suspense" and Britain's Daily Telegraph said he "redefined sporting drama."

London, Nov. 3 : Lewis Hamilton wept with joy after becoming the youngest-ever Formula One world champion and roared: “I thank God for this.”

Hamilton pipped Brazilian Felipe Massa to the title in unbelievable fashion when he overtook German Timo Glock with just half a mile left to clinch the fifth place he needed in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Washington, Nov 3 : British racing driver Lewis Hamilton’s girlfriend singer Nicole Scherzinger ‘nearly collapsed with excitement’ when she saw him win the Formula 1 World Championship.

Hamilton triumphed at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, snatching fifth place in a nerve-wracking finish, which handed him the 2008 World Title.

And the Pussycat Dolls star was trackside in Sao Paulo, Brazil to witness the momentous occasion.