Hamilton again displayed maturity beyond his 22 years after losing out on winning the world title in his debut year by just one point. Many lesser men would have been heartbroken, disconsolate, but not McLaren star Hamilton who again attempted to draw the positives from a negative situation.

Speaking after finishing seventh at a Brazilian Grand Prix in which race winner Kimi Raikkonen also claimed the title, Hamilton said: "I wouldn't say I've been robbed. The team have done a phenomenal job all season, which has been amazing, a huge rollercoaster ride. For sure it's been emotional, but I can't deny the fact that it's been incredible.

"I just think it's unfortunate I had that little problem [with the gearbox] in a season when we haven't had any problems all year. The car was phenomenal and, apart from the first lap, I think I drove one of my best races, so I can't be disappointed with that.

"But I guess everyone has their fair share of bad luck. It's just unfortunate mine all came in the last few races."

Doubts later emerged over the result after fuel temperature irregularities were found in cars from the BMW Sauber and Williams teams which finished ahead of the Englishman, but the stewards eventually decided it should stand - although McLaren said they will appeal that ruling.

If McLaren do appeal and Nico Rosberg, Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld are all thrown out, it would elevate Hamilton to fourth and give him the title.

However, it remains to be seen whether an appeal will really be made following a season in which the English team were fined $50million following the spy scandal.

Hamilton was honest enough to admit his mistakes, notably on the first lap when nerves got the better of him. A poor start allowed Raikkonen and team-mate Fernando Alonso to pass by the end of the Senna S curves, relegating him to fourth.

Then Hamilton braked too hard at one stage behind Alonso, running wide off the track and allowing another four cars to pass. He swiftly moved up to sixth, but then on lap eight his gearbox inexplicably shifted into neutral, and for 30 seconds Hamilton's world turned upside.

By the time it kicked back into life, Hamilton had dropped to 18th, and despite a valiant charge to finish seventh by the close, it was in vain.

Hamilton added: "It's my first year in Formula One and next year we'll bounce back stronger. I finished second in the world championship, I beat my team-mate under extremely difficult circumstances, I beat the two-time world champion. That was the goal. Who would have thought I would be leading the world championship going into the last race? I could have been world champion and it's a great feeling to be in that position. It's just a shame our team, with everything that has gone on this year, we didn't get the drivers' championship. But we'll go for it next year."

Raikkonen was convinced justice had been served after winning the world championship.

In a year so often overshadowed by the spy scandal, all within Ferrari naturally feel the drivers' title is rightfully theirs.

Looking back on the spy saga that saw McLaren stripped of all constructors' points, but the drivers avoid a penalty, Raikkonen said: "I think there is some kind of justice. It is so difficult to say. It is such a complicated situation.

"But now it has been decided we should put it behind us and there is no point in thinking about it any more. It's a different story from racing, so it is not a nice thing."

Team-mate Felipe Massa was also ebullient, adding: "I think it is another victory for us."

Raikkonen can certainly thank Massa for winning his first title as an all-too-obvious pit-stop strategy worked perfectly in the Finn's favour. Massa had led all the way through to lap 50 of the 71-lap race when he came in for his second set of tyres and more fuel.

At that stage Raikkonen was within two seconds, and over the course of the next three laps he put his foot to the floor. When he emerged from his own second stop he came out just ahead of Massa.