The 17 Greatest Formula 1 Title Deciders of All Time

Some of these titles were settled by one point, one was settled by half of one, and a few by a collision nobody has stopped arguing about.

1. 1
   2008 Brazilian Grand Prix

   Massa won at home and was champion for about thirty seconds until Hamilton passed Glock at the last corner to take the title by one point.
   1000pts
2. 2
   2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

   Hamilton and Verstappen arrived level on points and Verstappen took the title with a last-lap pass after a disputed safety-car restart.
   730pts
3. 3
   1964 Mexican Grand Prix

   Three drivers went into the finale in contention and Surtees took the title on the last lap after Clark's engine failed.
   615pts
4. 4
   2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

   The double-points finale where Rosberg's hybrid system failed and Hamilton won his second title.
   615pts
5. 5
   1990 Japanese Grand Prix

   A year after their first clash, Senna drove into Prost at the first corner at Suzuka and clinched the title.
   542pts
6. 6
   1989 Japanese Grand Prix

   Senna and Prost collided at Suzuka's chicane and Senna's later disqualification handed Prost the title.
   542pts
7. 7
   2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

   Verstappen won the race but Norris finished third to beat him and Piastri to the title by two points.
   478pts
8. 8
   1999 Japanese Grand Prix

   Häkkinen won at Suzuka to beat Irvine, who was standing in for the injured Schumacher at Ferrari.
   478pts
9. 9
   1984 Portuguese Grand Prix

   Lauda finished second behind team-mate Prost at Estoril and won the title by half a point, the smallest margin ever.
   404pts
10. 10
    2007 Brazilian Grand Prix

    Räikkönen came from third in the standings to beat both McLaren drivers to the title by a single point.
    404pts
11. 11
    1997 European Grand Prix

    Schumacher turned into Villeneuve at Jerez, failed, and was later disqualified from the whole championship.
    404pts
12. 12
    2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

    Hamilton slowed the field from the lead to hand Rosberg back to rivals, but Rosberg held on for his only title.
    319pts
13. 13
    2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

    Four drivers could still win the title and Vettel, who had never led the standings, took it from Alonso after a strategy error.
    217pts
14. 14
    1986 Australian Grand Prix

    Mansell's tyre exploded at Adelaide while leading the title race, leaving Prost to snatch a second championship.
    217pts
15. 15
    1976 Japanese Grand Prix

    Lauda withdrew in the Fuji downpour months after his Nürburgring crash and Hunt's third place made him champion by a point.
    0pts
16. 16
    2012 Brazilian Grand Prix

    Vettel was spun around on the opening lap, fought back from last in the rain and held off Alonso by three points.
    0pts
17. 17
    1994 Australian Grand Prix

    Schumacher hit the wall, then collided with Hill and won his first title by a single point.
    0pts

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