One of grand prix racing’s most rancorous duels reaches its conclusion on Sunday in Abu Dhabi. After 21 races of see-sawing fortunes, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are locked level on points, and it is winner takes all.
But there remains the prospect that Verstappen will ram Hamilton off the road because he leads on countback — nine race wins to eight. If neither scores, the Dutchman will clinch his first championship aged 24.
The world awaits the final showdown, with Verstappen’s father Jos having told Sportsmail yesterday that his son ‘will do everything to get the win’.
Here Sportsmail looks back at the extraordinary tales of last-race deciders that have gone before — none more tantalising, however, than Sunday’s finale.
Lewis Hamilton completed his fairytale rise from a council flat to world champion in Brazil
BRAZIL: Hamilton 94pts, Massa 87pts entering final race
Deep into the 3,264th and final lap of a compelling season, Lewis Hamilton completed his fairytale rise from a council flat to world champion at the age of 23.
The Briton headed into the 18th and concluding round in Sao Paulo leading the local favourite, Felipe Massa of Ferrari, by 94 points to 87. Hamilton needed to finish fifth or higher to be assured of the title that had eluded him by a single point in his rookie season a year before.
Massa won the race. He was champion-elect. Ferrari were in delirium, led by Massa’s father Luis in the garage. Hamilton, still on the track, was down in sixth as rain fell. But wait! Toyota’s Timo Glock, on the wrong rubber, was slowing as it grew wetter. In the final few corners, Hamilton passed him.
The car in front was no longer a Toyota. Hamilton thus finished fifth, a point clear. I have never seen a jaw drop as fast as poor Luis’s did at that moment.
Felipe Massa's Ferrari team and dad Luis saw their celebrations cut short in 2008
JAPAN: Lauda 68pts, Hunt 65pts
‘By all the laws of humanity I should not be motor racing champion of the world,’ wrote James Hunt on the front page of the Daily Mail the morning after he practically begged to die.
Rain was pelting Mount Fuji and Hunt had wanted the race postponed. The inflexible Japanese and an equally intractable Bernie Ecclestone told him, ‘No, it is today or never’. Hunt had to finish third or better to win the title, so suddenly he wanted the race to go ahead.
Niki Lauda, back from the fire that nearly killed him a
