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Formula One F1 – United States Grand Prix – Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, U.S. – October 24, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton leads into the first corner at the start of the race ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen REUTERS/Mike Blake
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Formula One F1 – United States Grand Prix – Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, U.S. – October 24, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton leads into the first corner at the start of the race ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen REUTERS/Mike Blake
The 2021 season in Formula 1 was touted as one of the greatest in history, some even going as far as to call it the greatest. And it was for a reason. Because in 2021, we saw one of the closest title battles in recent history between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
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It was so intense that the entire season came down to the final race when the two drivers went level on points. And even then it took a last-lap overtake to decide the championship. How much close can you get than that?
Well, turns out, a lot.
Because while the 2021 season was decided by a last-lap overtake, Max Verstappen still won the championship by a gap of 8 points.
And statistically, or in other words, speaking in point differences, there have been much closer title deciders in F1 history.
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Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 12, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates winning the race and the world championship with the Netherlands flag on the podium as Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton looks on after finishing second REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
The Closest Championship Gaps in History Including Lewis Hamilton in 2008
The title of the closest gaps in a title fight goes to Niki Lauda and Alain Prost in 1984. Lauda won his third championship against a young Prost by a scarcely believable 0.5 points.
And in the same list, the other nine entries of title deciders all feature a margin of a single point.
Some notable names among them include one of the most legendary battles, and another Niki Lauda entry of his battle with James Hunt, but this one the Austrian lost in 1976 by a single point margin.
There’s also the famous Michael Schumacher world championship win over Damon Hill in 1994, the first of his seven.
And in the modern era, the only other seven-time world champion makes an appearance on this list, twice.
Lewis Hamilton losing the 2007 title against Kimi Raikkonen by one point was a heartbreak for the rookie. But then in the following year, he shut off his doubters by winning the 2008 title against Felipe Massa by a single point in the now-infamous “Is that Glock?” moment.
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So the one thing worth noting from this list is that yes, it cements both the drivers’ names in the history books for the close battles they fought.
But the biggest takeaway is that it makes sure that those who came out victorious were forever counted as Formula 1 legends.
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