Norris Claims First F1 Title in Epic Three-Way Battle
Lando Norris has finally done it. The British driver clinched his first world championship this year after an incredible three-way battle that came down to the wire in Abu Dhabi.
Norris finished third in the season finale – just enough to edge out Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri for the title.
It’s the latest chapter in F1’s long history of nail-biting championship deciders. Let’s look back at five of the most dramatic final showdowns that had fans on the edge of their seats.
Schumacher vs. Villeneuve: The Collision That Cost a Champion
The 1997 season finale at Jerez gave us one of F1’s most controversial moments.
Jacques Villeneuve started on pole in a qualifying session so tight that he, Michael Schumacher, and Heinz-Harold Frentzen all set identical times to the thousandth of a second. What are the odds?
Schumacher grabbed the lead at the start and controlled most of the race, leading 40 of the first 47 laps.
But Villeneuve wasn’t going away. The Canadian stayed close and made his move on Lap 48, diving down the inside at Dry Sac corner.
What happened next shocked everyone. The pair collided, leaving Schumacher stuck in the gravel.
Villeneuve limped home to finish third – enough to secure the championship while Schumacher was disqualified from the entire championship standings. Talk about a dramatic ending to his second year at Ferrari!
Vettel’s Miracle in Brazil
The 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix was absolute chaos from start to finish.
Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso were locked in a season-long battle for their third world title. Vettel qualified fourth while Alonso was back in eighth on a wet Interlagos circuit.
The opening laps were pure madness as rain fell. Alonso showed his class with an incredible double overtake on teammate Felipe Massa and Mark Webber on just the second lap.
Vettel’s day couldn’t have started worse. He got hit by Bruno Senna on the first lap and spun all the way down to 22nd place. His championship hopes looked finished.
But in one of the great comeback drives, Vettel fought his way to sixth place while Alonso could only manage second. It was just enough for Vettel to secure his third straight championship.
Schumacher’s Controversial Adelaide Move
The 1994 title decider in Adelaide is still debated by F1 fans nearly 30 years later.
Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher arrived in Australia for the final race separated by just one point. Schumacher qualified second, one spot ahead of his rival.
For 36 laps, Hill chased the Benetton driver relentlessly.
Then came the moment. Schumacher hit the wall at East Terrace corner, damaging his car. Hill, seeing his opportunity, immediately dived down the inside.
The pair made contact. Schumacher’s car lifted onto two wheels before hitting the barrier. Both drivers were out with broken suspensions.
With neither finishing, Schumacher won the title by a single point. Hill would have to wait two more years before finally becoming world champion.
McLaren Teammates Turn Enemies in Japan
The 1989 Japanese Grand Prix featured perhaps the most famous teammate rivalry in F1 history.
McLaren’s star drivers Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost had dominated the sport. In qualifying, Senna showed his incredible speed by taking pole a whopping 1.7 seconds ahead of Prost.
But Prost got the better start and led until lap 47 when it all kicked off at the Casio chicane.
Senna attempted a pass, but the McLarens collided. Prost was out on the spot while Senna got going again and crossed the line first.
The drama wasn’t over. Senna was later disqualified for rejoining the track illegally, handing Prost the title. The Frenchman got revenge after losing to Senna the previous year.
43 Seconds That Changed F1 History
“Is that Glock?!”
Those four words sum up the incredible 2008 season finale in Brazil where Lewis Hamilton won the first of his seven world championships.
Hamilton entered the final round seven points ahead of local hero Felipe Massa. Fifth place would be enough for the British driver to secure the title.
Rain complicated everything at Interlagos. Massa did his part perfectly, winning his home race in style.
Hamilton was struggling, running sixth on the final lap and unable to pass Sebastian Vettel’s Toro Rosso.
As Massa crossed the line, the Ferrari garage erupted in celebration. For about 20 seconds, Felipe Massa was the world champion.
But the rain intensified on that final lap. Toyota’s Timo Glock, still on dry tires, slowed dramatically. Hamilton passed him in the final corners to grab fifth place and the championship by a single point.
The sight of the Ferrari team’s celebration turning to heartbreak remains one of F1’s most gut-wrenching moments.
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