The 33 Greatest Season-Deciding F1 Races in History

Some titles were settled by a single point, others by a collision, and at least one by a driver pushing his own car to the line. Seventy-five years of last-chance drama, ugly and glorious alike.

1. 1
   2008 Brazilian Grand Prix

   Lewis Hamilton passed Timo Glock in the final corners to beat Felipe Massa to the title by one point.
   1000pts
2. 2
   1974 United States Grand Prix

   Emerson Fittipaldi arrived level on points with Clay Regazzoni and took McLaren's first drivers' title.
   855pts
3. 3
   1983 South African Grand Prix

   Nelson Piquet overturned Alain Prost's lead at Kyalami as the Renault retired.
   732pts
4. 4
   2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

   A last-lap restart after a late safety car let Max Verstappen pass Lewis Hamilton for his first title.
   714pts
5. 5
   1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix

   Keke Rosberg sealed the title in Las Vegas despite winning only one race all season.
   683pts
6. 6
   1976 Japanese Grand Prix

   In torrential rain at Fuji, Niki Lauda withdrew and James Hunt's third place won him the title by a point.
   683pts
7. 7
   1988 Japanese Grand Prix

   Ayrton Senna stalled on the grid at Suzuka, then fought back through the field to win his first title.
   628pts
8. 8
   2009 Brazilian Grand Prix

   Jenson Button charged from 14th on the grid to fifth to seal Brawn GP's fairytale title.
   627pts
9. 9
   1998 Japanese Grand Prix

   Schumacher stalled on pole at Suzuka and Mika Häkkinen won the race and his first title.
   563pts
10. 10
    2006 Brazilian Grand Prix

    Alonso retained the title while Schumacher charged from a puncture to fourth in his farewell Ferrari race.
    563pts
11. 11
    2000 Japanese Grand Prix

    Schumacher out-strategised Häkkinen at Suzuka to end Ferrari's 21-year wait for a drivers' champion.
    488pts
12. 12
    1984 Portuguese Grand Prix

    Niki Lauda's second place behind Alain Prost won him the title by half a point, the narrowest margin ever.
    488pts
13. 13
    1990 Japanese Grand Prix

    Senna drove into Prost at the first corner at Suzuka, settling the title in his favour.
    488pts
14. 14
    1994 Australian Grand Prix

    Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill collided in Adelaide, giving Schumacher his first title by one point.
    488pts
15. 15
    1999 Japanese Grand Prix

    Mika Häkkinen won at Suzuka to retain his title against Ferrari's Eddie Irvine.
    488pts
16. 16
    1986 Australian Grand Prix

    Nigel Mansell's tyre exploded in Adelaide and Alain Prost stole the three-way title fight.
    399pts
17. 17
    1997 European Grand Prix

    At Jerez, Schumacher turned into Jacques Villeneuve, who took the title as Schumacher was later stripped of second place.
    399pts
18. 18
    2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

    Sebastian Vettel led the championship for the first time only after the flag, as Alonso stalled behind Petrov.
    399pts
19. 19
    1950 Italian Grand Prix

    The first World Championship decider, won at Monza by Nino Farina after Juan Manuel Fangio retired.
    293pts
20. 20
    1959 United States Grand Prix

    At Sebring, Jack Brabham ran out of fuel and pushed his Cooper over the line to clinch his first title.
    293pts
21. 21
    1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix

    Nelson Piquet's fifth place in a Las Vegas car park beat Carlos Reutemann to the title by one point.
    293pts
22. 22
    2005 Brazilian Grand Prix

    Fernando Alonso's third place at Interlagos made him the youngest champion yet and ended Schumacher's reign.
    293pts
23. 23
    2012 Brazilian Grand Prix

    Vettel was spun round on the first lap in the wet but recovered to sixth to beat Alonso by three points.
    293pts
24. 24
    2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

    Hamilton backed his rival into the pack, but Rosberg held second to win the title and then retire.
    293pts
25. 25
    2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

    Lando Norris finished third behind Verstappen and Oscar Piastri to win the three-way fight by two points.
    293pts
26. 26
    1962 South African Grand Prix

    Jim Clark's leading Lotus lost oil, handing the race and the title to Graham Hill.
    293pts
27. 27
    1989 Japanese Grand Prix

    Senna and Prost collided at the Suzuka chicane, and Senna's later disqualification handed Prost the crown.
    293pts
28. 28
    2007 Brazilian Grand Prix

    Kimi Räikkönen came from seven points behind to beat McLaren's Hamilton and Alonso by one point.
    293pts
29. 29
    1964 Mexican Grand Prix

    A three-way finale in which John Surtees snatched the title by one point after late drama for Clark and Hill.
    293pts
30. 30
    1968 Mexican Grand Prix

    Graham Hill won the three-way finale against Jackie Stewart and Denny Hulme for his second title.
    293pts
31. 31
    1958 Moroccan Grand Prix

    Mike Hawthorn finished second behind Stirling Moss to beat him to the title by a single point.
    0pts
32. 32
    2003 Japanese Grand Prix

    An eighth place at Suzuka was just enough for Schumacher's record sixth title against Kimi Räikkönen.
    0pts
33. 33
    2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

    In the double-points finale Hamilton won as Nico Rosberg's Mercedes lost power.
    0pts

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