Lewis Hamilton may have dashed any hopes UAE race fans may have had of seeing a nail-biting title showdown, but we’re determined to give you something of a thrill… so let’s revisit the past.
There have been some truly epic title showdowns since 1950, and choosing the top five is not an easy task. We have watched and re-watched some of the best (it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it) and we’re fairly sure these five races are greatest end-of-season title fights in F1 history.
What season would you add to this list? Tweet us @GulfNewsGuides.
5. European Grand Prix, Jerez, 1997
Michael Schumacher vs Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve was disqualified from fifth place at the penultimate race in Suzuka, Japan, and lost two valuable points. He went to Jerez a single point behind title-rival Michael Schumacher with it all to play for. The day before in qualifying, Villeneuve, Schumacher and the other Williams driver, Heinz-Harold Frentzen, all posted identical times.
In the race, the Canadian started from pole position, but lost the lead to Schumacher at the start. Villeneuve chased him down and, on lap 48, made a move up the inside of Dry Sac – a tight right bend. Schumacher turned towards him in an odious effort to wipe him out, but failed, coming off worst. The title was over: Villeneuve was crowned champion and Schumacher was disqualified from the season.
4. Australian Grand Prix, Adelaide, 1994
Michael Schumacher vs Damon Hill
It had been a competitive and tragic season. For all the close and exciting racing that had taken place, everything was overshadowed by the deaths of Aryton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at the dreadful San Marino Grand Prix in May. Damon Hill, the late Senna’s teammate went into the last race of the season trailing Benetton’s Michael Schumacher by a single point.
Hill piled the pressure on the leading Schumacher until, on lap 36, the German cracked and ran off the road, clipping the wall. He rejoined immediately but Hill had already committed to a pass on the inside, but the pair collided. The general consensus is that it was Schumacher was to blame, but with both drivers out of the race, it was he who took the title.
3. Australian Grand Prix, Adelaide, 1986
Nigel Mansell vs Alain Prost vs Nelson Piquet
Formula 1 hadn’t seen many three-way title fights, but there were no complaints from the fans about this one. Nigel Mansell was odds-on favourite to take the World Championship in 1986, and things were looking good. The Briton was second to Prost, although still on course for the title when, on lap 19, things went spectacularly wrong. He suffered a massive rear tyre blowout. It sent him down the service road and out of the race.
As a precaution, his Williams teammate and title rival, Piquet, was brought into the pits for new tyres. This allowed Prost to extend his gap and come from behind to take his second consecutive World Championship.
2. Japanese Grand Prix, Fuji, 1976
Niki Lauda vs James Hunt
The 1976 title fight between James Hunt and Niki Lauda has been immortalized on the big screen thanks to the 2013 film Rush. The story between the pair didn’t need much tinkering by Hollywood. Lauda had been the early favourite for the title until his dreadful crash in Germany saw Hunt closing the lead in the championship.
It all went down to the wire, with Hunt needing to finish third or better to claim the crown. The weather in Fiji was appalling, with heavy rain threatening to cancel the race. It went ahead and Lauda, still not at full fitness, decided to retire early on. Hunt drove flawlessly on ruined tyres and overcame a puncture to do what was needed, but the tension was almost unbearable. So much so that neither Hunt or his McLaren team even knew he had done it.
1. Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos, 2008
Felipe Massa vs Lewis Hamilton
Never has a world champion taken the title so late. Never mind the last race, or even the last lap. Lewis Hamilton snatched the 2008 title from Felipe Massa on the last corner of the Brazilian Grand Prix in what was the most dramatic down-to-the-wire finale the sport has ever seen.
As Mass was leading, Hamilton needed to finish fifth or higher to take the crown. But three laps from the end he was passed by Sebastian Vettel, dropping him to sixth. Timo Glock, in the Toyota, was running fourth but made an error on the last corner, allowing Hamilton through. Massa and the Ferrari team were celebrating, thinking they had won the title, but it was to be a cruel twist in what was an epic season.
