F1's Most Dramatic and Controversial Title Deciders

The 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks the 32nd time in Formula 1 history that the Drivers' Championship will be decided in the final race of the season. While some legendary title battles concluded before the final round—like Senna and Prost's Suzuka clashes—there's an undeniable allure to a winner-take-all finale.

Why it matters:

• A championship decided in the final race often creates legendary moments, etching the event into F1 folklore and influencing fan perceptions for decades.
• These high-stakes scenarios frequently expose the raw tension, strategic brilliance, and human drama inherent in motorsport, offering compelling narratives that transcend mere racing.
• The unpredictable nature of these deciders, often involving controversial incidents, mechanical failures, or unexpected weather, fundamentally shapes the legacies of drivers and teams.

The details:

• Japan 1976: Lauda v Hunt: Niki Lauda, recovering from a near-fatal crash, led James Hunt by three points into the Fuji finale. In torrential rain, Lauda withdrew, deeming conditions unsafe. Hunt ultimately clinched the title by a single point after a late pit stop and a charge to third place.
• Australia 1986: Mansell v Prost v Piquet: Nigel Mansell needed third place for the title but suffered a spectacular tire blowout 18 laps from the end, handing Alain Prost an unexpected championship victory after Williams pitted Nelson Piquet as a precaution.
• Australia 1994: Schumacher v Hill: Following a season marred by tragedy and controversy, Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill entered the final race separated by one point. A controversial collision on Lap 36 saw Schumacher turn into Hill, ending both their races and securing Schumacher his first title amid widespread debate.
• Europe 1997: Schumacher v Villeneuve: At Jerez, Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher entered the final race with one point between them, after setting identical qualifying times. Schumacher controversially attempted to take out Villeneuve during the race, ending his own race in the gravel and leading to his disqualification from the standings, while Villeneuve secured the title.
• Brazil 2007: Hamilton v Alonso v Raikkonen: In his rookie season, Lewis Hamilton led Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen into the finale. A gearbox glitch cost Hamilton crucial time, allowing Raikkonen to snatch the championship by one point in a stunning upset.
• Brazil 2008: Hamilton v Massa: In a dramatic finish, Lewis Hamilton secured his first championship on the final corner of the last lap, passing Timo Glock. Felipe Massa, who had briefly been champion, was left in disbelief as his home crowd's celebrations turned to silence.
• Abu Dhabi 2010: Alonso v Webber v Vettel v Hamilton: F1's only four-way title decider. Sebastian Vettel, then the outsider, won the race and the championship after Ferrari's strategy to cover Mark Webber backfired, trapping title leader Fernando Alonso in traffic.
• Brazil 2012: Vettel v Alonso: Sebastian Vettel clinched his third consecutive title despite a Lap 1 collision that severely damaged his Red Bull. He fought back to sixth place, securing the championship by a mere three points over Fernando Alonso.
• Abu Dhabi 2021: Verstappen vs Hamilton: Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton entered the finale tied on points. A late Safety Car period, triggered by Nicholas Latifi's crash, and a controversial decision by the race director to allow only certain lapped cars to unlap themselves, led to a final-lap shootout. Verstappen, on fresh soft tires, overtook Hamilton on old hard tires to claim his maiden world championship.

What's next:

With the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix set to host another title decider, F1 fans are bracing for potentially more historic and dramatic moments. These past encounters serve as a powerful reminder of how quickly fortunes can turn and how deeply controversies can impact the sport's narrative, ensuring the 2025 finale will be watched with heightened anticipation for both on-track action and potential off-track drama.