Alonso youngest F1 champion after third-place finish

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Fernando Alonso must now find something else to aim for in Formula One.

The 24-year-old Spaniard became the series' youngest champion by finishing third in the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, having already been the youngest race winner and pole position winner.

Spain's Fernando Alonso, 24, is a year younger than Emerson Fittipaldi was when he won his first title. (AP)

"I need to find new targets because this one is done," Alonso said. "This is very important for me, my friends, my country and my family."

Alonso needed only a top-three finish in a race won by Juan Pablo Montoya of McLaren-Mercedes. Kimi Raikkonen, Montoya's teammate and the only other driver in contention for the championship, finished second on the 2.6-mile Interlagos circuit.

Michael Schumacher, whose five-year reign as Formula One champion ended, was fourth. Schumacher gave the new champ a hug and handshake while Alonso was doing interviews.

In 2003, Alonso became the youngest to take a pole position in Formula One at 21 and followed with a race victory at 22 a few months later. Now he's a champion.

"It was always a dream to win the Formula One title," Alonso said. "It's the maximum that I have ever achieved in my life."

Raikkonen had to finish fifth or better and hope that Alonso didn't complete the race. The Renault driver leads Raikkonen by 23 points with two races to go, the next the Japanese Grand Prix on Oct. 9.

"He deserves it -- whoever has the most points deserves it," Raikkonen said. "We lost this year but we will try again next year."

Alonso shouted "Yeah!" several times into the team radio as he crossed the line and waved his fists. After the lap, he stopped and calmly exited his car. Then he jumped on top of the right front tire and shouted again with both arms outstretched. He jumped off the car and ran to hug his teammates.

Montoya recorded his seventh career victory and third of the season, helping to give McLaren the constructors' lead by two points over Renault.

On the podium, while the McLarens took first and second, the real celebration was with Alonso in third. Alonso turned 24 in July. Brazil's Emerson Fittipaldi was a year older when he won the first of his two world titles in 1972.

The race was seconds old when Antonio Pizzonia, Mark Webber and David Coulthard were involved in a crash. The safety car went out just as Raikkonen passed Fisichella to take over third. Racing resumed entering the third lap, and Montoya overtook Alonso for first.

"I knew Juan Pablo was quicker," Alonso said. "I knew I had no chance to fight because today was no risk," Alonso said. "It was not easy, I was extremely careful in overtaking. Every one was a risky moment."

Montoya slowly moved away and, by 10 laps, he had a 4.1-second lead over Alonso with Raikkonen in third. The gap remained until the end of the 22nd lap when Alonso pitted and lost second to Raikkonen. Raikkonen led briefly when Montoya went into the pits first.

After 35 laps, the two McLarens were comfortably in front of Alonso, who was not threatened by Schumacher in fourth.

On Lap 60, Raikkonen came out of the pits just behind Montoya, with Alonso third, 25 seconds back. The race ended after 71 laps.

"The last two or three laps, you start to hear noises and you are a bit worried," Alonso said. "When I crossed the line, I realized everything was done."