# 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.

*By YPB Team · Published September 27, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-17-greatest-formula-1-title-deciders-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **2008 Brazilian Grand Prix** — score 1000/1000
   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.
2. **2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix** — score 730/1000
   Hamilton and Verstappen arrived level on points and Verstappen took the title with a last-lap pass after a disputed safety-car restart.
3. **1964 Mexican Grand Prix** — score 615/1000
   Three drivers went into the finale in contention and Surtees took the title on the last lap after Clark's engine failed.
4. **2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix** — score 615/1000
   The double-points finale where Rosberg's hybrid system failed and Hamilton won his second title.
5. **1990 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 542/1000
   A year after their first clash, Senna drove into Prost at the first corner at Suzuka and clinched the title.
6. **1989 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 542/1000
   Senna and Prost collided at Suzuka's chicane and Senna's later disqualification handed Prost the title.
7. **2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix** — score 478/1000
   Verstappen won the race but Norris finished third to beat him and Piastri to the title by two points.
8. **1999 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 478/1000
   Häkkinen won at Suzuka to beat Irvine, who was standing in for the injured Schumacher at Ferrari.
9. **1984 Portuguese Grand Prix** — score 404/1000
   Lauda finished second behind team-mate Prost at Estoril and won the title by half a point, the smallest margin ever.
10. **2007 Brazilian Grand Prix** — score 404/1000
   Räikkönen came from third in the standings to beat both McLaren drivers to the title by a single point.
11. **1997 European Grand Prix** — score 404/1000
   Schumacher turned into Villeneuve at Jerez, failed, and was later disqualified from the whole championship.
12. **2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix** — score 319/1000
   Hamilton slowed the field from the lead to hand Rosberg back to rivals, but Rosberg held on for his only title.
13. **2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix** — score 217/1000
   Four drivers could still win the title and Vettel, who had never led the standings, took it from Alonso after a strategy error.
14. **1986 Australian Grand Prix** — score 217/1000
   Mansell's tyre exploded at Adelaide while leading the title race, leaving Prost to snatch a second championship.
15. **1976 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 0/1000
   Lauda withdrew in the Fuji downpour months after his Nürburgring crash and Hunt's third place made him champion by a point.
16. **2012 Brazilian Grand Prix** — score 0/1000
   Vettel was spun around on the opening lap, fought back from last in the rain and held off Alonso by three points.
17. **1994 Australian Grand Prix** — score 0/1000
   Schumacher hit the wall, then collided with Hill and won his first title by a single point.

Tags: sports, formula-1, racing, motorsport