The 2021 season is unique as we are in the midst of a titanic battle for the world title, which is statistically contested between the most successful F1 driver of all time and who is believed by many to drive an F1 car since the late great Ayrton. Most talented driver ever. Army. Yes, the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen has been quite an exciting one and has seen both Red Bull and Mercedes cars match equally for the first time in the turbo-hybrid era of the sport. Excited to see Verstappen’s pure grit and pace against Hamilton’s experience and all-round ability. And that’s why we’re now taking a look at the closest title fights in F1 over the past 30 odd years.
Vettel / Alonso
Vettel won four titles on the rise between 2010-2013
The last close title fight between two drivers from two different teams in F1 happened before the turbo-hybrid era. It was Fernando Alonso vs Sebastian Vettel; Ferrari vs Red Bull, but it was not a fight of equals. Vettel won the title in a thrilling drive in the last race of the season that saw him claw his way back from the back of the grid to snatch the title from Alonso, who had left a largely underpowered Ferrari behind. Alonso led the championship for the major part of the season, until Vettel and Red Bull played their part together in the latter part of the season, when Spaniards Ferrari could not compete and went ahead with some retirements. Vettel also had some help from comeback Michael Schumacher, who was in the last race at Mercedes, who let him pass which allowed Vettel to score points to gain the advantage over Alonso. Despite his two world titles, many believe Alonso’s 2012 performance was his best ever. It is a performance that leads most to believe that he is the greatest driver, not Hamilton, in F1 after Schumacher.
Raikkonen / Alonso / Hamilton 2007:
In 2007 there were three drivers who are the oldest on the current F1 grid. Lewis Hamilton was a rookie, Alonso was a two-time world champion, while Raikkonen was highly admired for his speed. Alonso was now at McLaren after ousting the great Michael Schumacher from power for two consecutive years at Renault, and his efforts resulted in Schumacher’s retirement from Ferrari, to be replaced by the lightning-fast Raikkonen. For the first half of the season, the McLaren pair had leapfrogged the Ferrari, but it was neck-and-neck between Alonso and Hamilton as both ate points away from each other. In the second half of the season, Raikkonen and Ferrari worked together and during the last race at Interlagos both dropped by only 1 point – with Hamilton and Alonso tied for points, although Hamilton got P2 in the championship. . Podium finished. Alonso was bitter at McLaren and skipped the next season and since then hasn’t had a car that deserves to win the world title.
Verstappen/Hamilton 2021:
Max Verstappen is the youngest race winner in F1 and could be one of the youngest world champions
photo credit: AFP
This list would not be complete without mentioning the 2021 season which has really thrilled. For the first time in the sport’s turbo-hybrid era, Red Bull and Verstappen challenged the dominance of Mercedes and Hamilton. The first half of the season looked like Verstappen had the measure of Hamilton, but a combination of retirement due to track crashes and tire failures meant that things remained close with a race-to-race advantage based on the track layout. Now, as we have, both are tied on 369.5 points with the last race left. Hamilton has to score more points than Verstappen – while Verstappen will be the champion if both get the same number of points or both score nothing by virtue of winning another race. It is a battle between F1’s current master and his successor, believed by many.
Hamilton / Massa 2008:
Hamilton won his first title since 2007’s heartbreak in 2008
In their second year, after heartbreak and drama at Interlagos in 2007, Hamilton and McLaren had another rumble against Felipe Massa’s other Ferraris. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this title match was that for almost a minute as Massa crossed the finish line to win his home race, while Hamilton was stuck on P6, everyone, especially the Ferrari paddock, thought that the Brazilian world. has become a champion. Unfortunately, heartbreakingly for Massa, on the last lap, Hamilton overtook Timo Glock of Toyota due to retirement to achieve the P5 needed to win his first title.
Schumacher / Villeneuve 1997:
After competing in the 1996 Ferrari, Michael Schumacher’s move to Ferrari was proving to be a painful one. But in 1997 he had a better car that, if in his hands, could take the title fight to Jacques Villeneuve’s disastrously fast Williams. But an unfortunate move by the great German, who many believed was an attempted crash in Villeneuve, with his car crashing in Jerez, gave the Canadian his only world title, Williams’ F1 In the final title. The Germans who were disqualified from the German Championships remain a stain on their world green heritage to this day.
Schumacher/Hill 1994:
Michael Schumacher defeats Damon Hill to win his first title at Benetton
photo credit: AFP
Michael Schumacher’s first world title came into question around the legality of the Benetton he ran and the tragic death of the great Ayrton Senna at Imola. This left him the undisputed best driver in the sport at the time, but it also provided Damon Hill an opportunity to shine at Williams, which found its groove after Senna’s death. But Schumacher was leading the title fight in Adelaide by 1 point for the 1994 Australian GP and in the race, Hill was chasing and hunting the German which made an error, but Schumacher did not relent and Hill who retired both cars and therefore giving the world title to Schumacher.
Senna/Prost 1989:
Tensions were brewing between Senna, Prost’s dream team, and the phenomenal McLaren Honda car. Senna entered during the 1988 season and defeated his veteran 2-time world title-winning teammate. Prost was never going to have that in 1989 and when the two advanced to the title match in Suzuka, Japan. Senna needed to win the race and pulled an astonishing qualifying lap for pole that was 1.7 faster than his teammate. The Brazilian stopped at the start and Prost took the lead, but after the first round of pit stops the legendary Brazilian came out and only attempted to hit Prost in the last chicken. Prost left the car but Senna did not give up, and with a little help from marshals, he went to the slip road and restarted the car. Despite being stationary for a long time, Senna won the race by coming from the back of the grid. But Prost went to the stewards after the race which resulted in Senna being disqualified from the race and Prost winning his third world title.
Senna/Prost 1990:
The Senna Prost rivalry is the stuff legends define F1 as a sport
Due to animosity with Senna, Prost headed to Ferrari in 1990. Again this year the title fight came down to the last race at Suzuka, but this time it was turned around the table as Prost needed to win the race to win the world championship. Senna wanted exact revenge for 1989 and was further aggravated when, despite being on pole, had to start on the dirty part of the track, which would give Prost’s Ferrari an advantage during the start. Predictably, Prost overtook Senna at the start, but Senna saw an unexpected start and immediately overtaked without worrying about the high risk of an accident. The Brazilian did not even attempt to brake and Senna was crowned world champion for the second time.
Schumacher / Alonso 2006:
After being defeated in 2005 by Alonso and a Michelin-equipped Renault, 7-time world champion Michael Schumacher had a point to prove. By the second half of the season, he had a faster car than the young Spaniard and had also announced his intention to retire at the end of the season. Classified by some as the German’s greatest drive, Schumacher needed to get ahead of his Spanish rival, but his plan was already poor, thanks to an engine penalty that ensured he could just start from P10. succeeded in But the German master overturned Alonso, who was on P4, when he reached P6 within a considerable distance. But then a collision with Giancarlo Fisichella meant he fell to P19 for a puncture, but the brave Schumacher did not give up and rocketed to P4, but was still unable to hunt down Alonso who made P2 completed and secured his second world title.
Rosberg/Hamilton 2016:
Rosberg was the last man to beat Lewis Hamilton for a world title, which Verstappen wants to emulate
While Hamilton has won 6 of his 7 world titles with Mercedes in the turbo-hybrid era of the sport, he could have won 7 with Brackley’s team. The problem for him was that his first teammate at Mercedes was not Spring Chicken, but his childhood rival Nico Rosberg, who kept him honest in 2014 and 2015. Their rivalry turned their friendship sour and in 2016 Rosberg was a man on a mission, leading the world championships from the early stages of the season. Rosberg started the race in P2 in Abu Dhabi with Hamilton having the advantage through the race. A P2 finish for Rosberg would have given him the title, but then Hamilton, who was fast over the weekend, began to push Rosberg back into the pack, resulting in Vettel’s Ferrari being put on hold, which ended in a tense finish. But the German eventually emerged victorious and retired from the sport soon after the race.
0 notes
In this article, we have focused more on the last thirty years of F1 and some notable title fights that have not been included such as the one between Nelson Pique Sr. and Nigel Mansell and James Hunt and Niki Lauda.
for the latest auto news And ReviewFollow carandbike.com Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe to our youtube Channel.
,