F1's Historic Three-Way Title Deciders

For the first time in 15 years, three drivers are set to battle for the F1 World Drivers' Championship at the season finale. Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri head to Yas Marina with everything on the line, mirroring some of the sport's most legendary and dramatic conclusions.

Why it matters:

This upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks a rare and thrilling occasion in Formula 1 history, where three drivers enter the final race with a mathematical chance at the championship. It harkens back to some of F1's most iconic conclusions, including moments of astonishing sportsmanship, mechanical heartbreak, and last-lap drama. A three-way fight guarantees an unpredictable and intense showdown, captivating fans and potentially forging new legends.

The big picture:

• Current Standings: Lando Norris leads with 408 points, followed by Max Verstappen at 396, and Oscar Piastri at 392. Just 16 points separate the top contender from the third.
• Key Permutations: Norris secures the title with a podium finish. Verstappen needs a podium to have any chance, winning the race requires Norris to finish no higher than third. Piastri's path is the most challenging, needing a first or second-place finish and hoping Norris finishes sixth or lower if he wins.
• Historical Context: This is the first three-way title decider since 2010 (which famously involved four drivers) and only the 11th such instance in F1 history.

The details:

Throughout F1's rich history, multi-driver season finales have often delivered unforgettable drama:

• 1950 (Monza): The inaugural F1 season saw Juan Manuel Fangio, Giuseppe Farina, and Luigi Fagioli in contention. Fangio's retirement paved the way for Farina to become the first world champion.
• 1956 (Monza): Fangio secured his fourth title after Peter Collins made an astonishing act of sportsmanship, handing his car over to Fangio after Fangio's retirement.
• 1959 (Riverside): Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss, and Tony Brooks battled. Brabham famously pushed his car across the finish line after running out of fuel to secure the title.
• 1964 (Mexico): John Surtees, Graham Hill, and Jim Clark fought in a controversial finale. Surtees, aided by teammate Lorenzo Bandini, became the only person to win world championships on both two and four wheels.
• 1968 (Mexico): Graham Hill navigated a shattered Lotus team after Jim Clark's death, beating Jackie Stewart and Denny Hulme to secure the title for himself and a grief-stricken Colin Chapman.
• 1974 (Watkins Glen): Emerson Fittipaldi delivered McLaren's first drivers' title, going into the finale tied on points with Clay Regazzoni, with Jody Scheckter also having an outside chance.
• 1981 (Las Vegas): Nelson Piquet famously won the title in the Caesars Palace car park, beating Carlos Reutemann and Jacques Laffite in a physically brutal race.
• 1986 (Adelaide): Nigel Mansell suffered a dramatic tire blow-out at 180mph, handing the championship to Alain Prost after a precautionary stop for his Williams teammate Nelson Piquet.
• 2007 (Interlagos): Kimi Räikkönen clinched the title by a single point in a chaotic race, as McLaren teammates Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso ended tied just behind him due to internal strife and strategic errors.
• 2010 (Yas Marina): A unique four-way decider between Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton. Vettel emerged victorious after Ferrari's strategic miscalculation on Alonso, making him the youngest F1 world champion.

What's next:

The stage is set for a historic showdown at Yas Marina. With Norris as the favorite, but Verstappen and Piastri close behind, the race promises to be a tense affair. The echoes of past dramatic finales suggest that strategy, luck, and raw speed will all play critical roles in determining who lifts the 2024 Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship trophy. The outcome could etch another legendary chapter into F1's history books, potentially adding another name to the illustrious list of McLaren champions.