# 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.

*By YPB Team · Published October 29, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-33-greatest-season-deciding-f1-races-in-history*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **2008 Brazilian Grand Prix** — score 1000/1000
   Lewis Hamilton passed Timo Glock in the final corners to beat Felipe Massa to the title by one point.
2. **1974 United States Grand Prix** — score 855/1000
   Emerson Fittipaldi arrived level on points with Clay Regazzoni and took McLaren's first drivers' title.
3. **1983 South African Grand Prix** — score 732/1000
   Nelson Piquet overturned Alain Prost's lead at Kyalami as the Renault retired.
4. **2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix** — score 714/1000
   A last-lap restart after a late safety car let Max Verstappen pass Lewis Hamilton for his first title.
5. **1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix** — score 683/1000
   Keke Rosberg sealed the title in Las Vegas despite winning only one race all season.
6. **1976 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 683/1000
   In torrential rain at Fuji, Niki Lauda withdrew and James Hunt's third place won him the title by a point.
7. **1988 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 628/1000
   Ayrton Senna stalled on the grid at Suzuka, then fought back through the field to win his first title.
8. **2009 Brazilian Grand Prix** — score 627/1000
   Jenson Button charged from 14th on the grid to fifth to seal Brawn GP's fairytale title.
9. **1998 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 563/1000
   Schumacher stalled on pole at Suzuka and Mika Häkkinen won the race and his first title.
10. **2006 Brazilian Grand Prix** — score 563/1000
   Alonso retained the title while Schumacher charged from a puncture to fourth in his farewell Ferrari race.
11. **2000 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 488/1000
   Schumacher out-strategised Häkkinen at Suzuka to end Ferrari's 21-year wait for a drivers' champion.
12. **1984 Portuguese Grand Prix** — score 488/1000
   Niki Lauda's second place behind Alain Prost won him the title by half a point, the narrowest margin ever.
13. **1990 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 488/1000
   Senna drove into Prost at the first corner at Suzuka, settling the title in his favour.
14. **1994 Australian Grand Prix** — score 488/1000
   Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill collided in Adelaide, giving Schumacher his first title by one point.
15. **1999 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 488/1000
   Mika Häkkinen won at Suzuka to retain his title against Ferrari's Eddie Irvine.
16. **1986 Australian Grand Prix** — score 399/1000
   Nigel Mansell's tyre exploded in Adelaide and Alain Prost stole the three-way title fight.
17. **1997 European Grand Prix** — score 399/1000
   At Jerez, Schumacher turned into Jacques Villeneuve, who took the title as Schumacher was later stripped of second place.
18. **2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix** — score 399/1000
   Sebastian Vettel led the championship for the first time only after the flag, as Alonso stalled behind Petrov.
19. **1950 Italian Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   The first World Championship decider, won at Monza by Nino Farina after Juan Manuel Fangio retired.
20. **1959 United States Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   At Sebring, Jack Brabham ran out of fuel and pushed his Cooper over the line to clinch his first title.
21. **1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   Nelson Piquet's fifth place in a Las Vegas car park beat Carlos Reutemann to the title by one point.
22. **2005 Brazilian Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   Fernando Alonso's third place at Interlagos made him the youngest champion yet and ended Schumacher's reign.
23. **2012 Brazilian Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   Vettel was spun round on the first lap in the wet but recovered to sixth to beat Alonso by three points.
24. **2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   Hamilton backed his rival into the pack, but Rosberg held second to win the title and then retire.
25. **2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   Lando Norris finished third behind Verstappen and Oscar Piastri to win the three-way fight by two points.
26. **1962 South African Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   Jim Clark's leading Lotus lost oil, handing the race and the title to Graham Hill.
27. **1989 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   Senna and Prost collided at the Suzuka chicane, and Senna's later disqualification handed Prost the crown.
28. **2007 Brazilian Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   Kimi Räikkönen came from seven points behind to beat McLaren's Hamilton and Alonso by one point.
29. **1964 Mexican Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   A three-way finale in which John Surtees snatched the title by one point after late drama for Clark and Hill.
30. **1968 Mexican Grand Prix** — score 293/1000
   Graham Hill won the three-way finale against Jackie Stewart and Denny Hulme for his second title.
31. **1958 Moroccan Grand Prix** — score 0/1000
   Mike Hawthorn finished second behind Stirling Moss to beat him to the title by a single point.
32. **2003 Japanese Grand Prix** — score 0/1000
   An eighth place at Suzuka was just enough for Schumacher's record sixth title against Kimi Räikkönen.
33. **2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix** — score 0/1000
   In the double-points finale Hamilton won as Nico Rosberg's Mercedes lost power.

Tags: formula-1, drivers, motorsport, rivalries