F1s Closest Title Battles Going Into The Final Race Of The Season

As you’ll all know by now, we throne into the final race this season with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen tied on points. It’s not a worldwide thing; in fact, it’s only overly happened once before!

As the epic Verstappen versus Hamilton duel comes to a thrilling conclusion, we take a squint at the other times that the title race has been so tropical superiority of the season-closing Grand Prix!

2021: 0 points – VERSTAPPEN vs HAMILTON

In a year that has had its pearly share of tropical racing, drama and controversy, it seemed scrutinizingly inevitable that Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton would throne to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with the title still to be decided. The Drivers’ Championship has not been decided at the season’s final race since 2016 when Hamilton lost out to team-mate Nico Rosberg.

With Verstappen and Hamilton equal on points, it all comes lanugo to who finishes superiority at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday. It’s worth noting that if neither suburbanite scores in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen would win the title as he has recorded increasingly wins this season.

1974: 0 points – FITTIPALDI vs REGAZZONI

The only other time that the Drivers’ Championship has been tied heading into the final race of the season was in 1974. Both Emerson Fittipaldi and Clay Regazzoni had scored 52 points superiority of the last race, though Fittipaldi was credited with the lead as he had won three races compared to Regazzoni’s one.

The last race of the year took place at Watkins Glen, where Fittipaldi qualified eighth in his McLaren, with Regazzoni’s Ferrari one position behind. Jody Scheckter, who moreover had a mathematical endangerment of winning the title, started from pole position. While Scheckter retired from the race, Regazzoni could finish only eleventh, struggling with car issues throughout the race. Fittipaldi finished in fourth place, and his three points were unbearable to clinch his second and final World Championship.

1981: 1 point – REUTEMANN vs PIQUET

In 1981, Carlos Reutemann went into the final race of the year with a single point wholesomeness over Nelson Piquet. Jacques Laffite was moreover still in contention for the title, sitting six points overdue the leader.

The title showdown was held in Las Vegas, on the parking lot of the famous Caesars Palace hotel! Reutemann secured pole for the race but fell to fifth surpassing the end of the first lap. The Argentine suburbanite had gearbox troubles during the Grand Prix and sooner slipped out of the top ten. Meanwhile, Nelson Piquet finished fifth and won the title by just one point!

Reutemann is one of only ten drivers who led the championship superiority of the season’s final race and failed to go on and win the title. The last time it happened was in 2010 when Fernando Alonso led the way superiority of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

1994: 1 point – SCHUMACHER vs HILL

One of F1’s most memorable title deciders – perhaps for all the wrong reasons – came at the 1994 Australian Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher arrived in Adelaide with a one point lead over Damon Hill. While Nigel Mansell took pole, Schumacher started slantingly him on the front row with Hill just overdue in third place.

Schumacher took the lead at the start of the race, while Hill’s Williams slotted into second. The order remained the same until the midway point, when Schumacher made a mistake and went wide, permitting Hill to tropical up to the Benetton driver. Hill went to the inside of Schumacher to overtake, but Schumacher turned in and eliminated both cars from the race. The German was out on the spot, while Hill returned to the pits with irreparable forfeiture – meaning Schumacher personal the first of his seven titles.

1997: 1 point – SCHUMACHER vs VILLENEUVE

In 1997, Michael Schumacher headed to Jerez for the European Grand Prix one point superiority of Jacques Villeneuve. The pair set identical qualifying times for the race, with Villeneuve starting from pole as he set his lap time first. Schumacher took the lead as the starting lights went out and remained superiority of his title rival without the first round of pit stops – albeit under increasing pressure from the Williams.

20 laps from the end, Villeneuve overtook Schumacher, but Schumacher turned his Ferrari into the side of the Williams while Villeneuve was passing, in what appeared to be a purposeful struggle to take his title rival out of the race. While Villeneuve suffered no forfeiture to his car, Schumacher retired. The Canadian went on to finish third, securing his only championship win.

Originally judged as a racing incident, the standoff between the pair went to a disciplinary hearing by the FIA two weeks without the race, and Schumacher was subsequently ruled from the 1997 season.

Who do you think will win the Drivers’ Championship this weekend? Let us know in the comments below.