Friday, 19th October 2007 at 2:36 pm

Can Lewis Hamilton make history?

The sideshows have provided much distraction this week, Felipe Massa’s Ferrari extension throwing Fernando Alonso’s suggested move in doubt, and the general undercurrent of rumour and conjecture concerning who will be driving where in 2009, adding to the week’s intrigue. Throw in a World Cup final to look forward to, and in South Africa at least, Lewis Hamilton has kept well below the radar in the build-up to this weekend’s season decider in Brazil.

And even if he does win, Monday’s papers will be awash with rugby, which for Hamilton would be a shame, for he stands on the cusp of a quite extraordinary achievement. A Michael Schumacher-sized hole has been more than filled by an outrageous rookie spilling over with talent, confidence and self-belief, and poised to take the Formula 1 driver’s championship in his debut season.

South Africa will be sporting a collective hangover on Sunday evening (celebratory, one hopes, rather than therapeutic); the hardier souls will pick up where they left off, but those of a gentler constitution (or a long day in the office on Monday) will be settled in on the couch to see if Hamilton can finish off his fairytale first season. Alonso and Kimi Raikonnen remain in contention, so it’s not over yet; there’s every chance, however, that a little Formula 1 history will be made in Brazil on Sunday.