A Look Back at F1's Most Controversial Championship Deciders

While a final-race championship showdown is the ultimate F1 spectacle, history shows these high-pressure moments can curdle into controversy. From deliberate collisions between teammates to contentious race control decisions, the fight for the title has often ended in acrimony rather than celebration, leaving a permanent scar on the sport's legacy.

Why it matters:

These moments are more than just historical footnotes; they are defining events that have shaped F1's narrative, rules, and public perception. They highlight the immense pressure drivers face and the fine line between fierce competition and unsportsmanlike conduct, often forcing the sport to confront its own regulations and ethical boundaries.

The details:

A look back at some of the most infamous championship finales:

• 1964: A Three-Way Tangle in Mexico John Surtees, Graham Hill, and Jim Clark entered the finale with a shot at the title. The race saw a wild turn of events: Hill was punted out of a title-winning position, Clark's car failed with two laps to go, and Ferrari team orders from Lorenzo Bandini—who had hit Hill—allowed Surtees to slip past and claim the crown.

• 1989: Prost vs. Senna I At Suzuka, Alain Prost needed Ayrton Senna to not finish. Prost turned in on his McLaren teammate at the final chicane, taking both out. Senna restarted and won the race but was later disqualified for cutting the chicane, handing the title to Prost.

• 1990: Prost vs. Senna II The script flipped at the same track a year later. An incensed Senna, furious over his pole position grid slot, collided with Prost at Turn 1 on the first lap. The crash took both out, and Senna was crowned world champion.

• 1994 & 1997: Schumacher's Title Deciders Michael Schumacher was involved in two notorious collisions. In 1994, he deliberately drove into Damon Hill in Adelaide to secure his first title. Three years later, he attempted a similar move on Jacques Villeneuve in Jerez but failed, resulting in Schumacher being disqualified from the entire championship.

• 2021: Abu Dhabi Controversy In one of the most watched races ever, Lewis Hamilton was on course for his eighth title until a late Safety Car. A controversial decision by race director Michael Masi on the restart procedure allowed Max Verstappen, on fresh tires, to pass Hamilton on the final lap to win the championship, a decision that still sparks intense debate.

Looking Ahead:

The legacy of these controversial deciders endures, fueling debates among fans for decades. They serve as powerful reminders that in the high-stakes world of Formula 1, the line between hero and villain can be crossed in a single, decisive moment, forever altering the course of history.