Editor’s Note: This article on some of Formula One’s greatest races is posted in collaboration with an outside sponsorship client. The opinions and information contained within do not necessarily represent Frontstretch and its staff.
In the 72+ years Formula 1 has existed, there have been 1,075 races, but only a select few stand out in fans’ memories. These events serve as great reminders as to why this motorsport grew to its current level of popularity within the world today.
In no particular order, here are five of the greatest racing events in the history of F1.
Canadian Grand Prix, 2011
The triumph of Jenson Button in this race is perhaps the single most unbelievable comeback F1 has ever experienced. Some of the setbacks Button faced within the first few hours in the game include:
- Â Â a collision with team member Hamilton
- Â Â a punctured tire
- Â Â a stop-and-go penalty
- Â Â another puncture
- Â Â another collision
In total, Button had five pit stops and changed tires six times.
Despite all this adversity, he managed to move from 21st position to 1st within a few hours. Canadian motorsports gamblers who predicted the winner correctly despite the odds won big that day. If you would like to win money similarly by wagering on F1 events, why not try $1 deposit casino Canada? These casinos allow you to stand a chance of winning thousands of dollars by depositing just $1.
With Button himself calling this event “[His] entire career in one race,” it is certain this stunning 2011 victory will not be forgotten anytime soon.
Japan, 1989
If you’re an avid fan of Formula 1, chances are you’ve heard about the Prost-Senna rivalry of 1988–1990. This rivalry came to a head in 1989 at the penultimate event of the championship. Prost was up by 16 points, meaning Senna needed to win the race to have a chance of winning the title.
After racing for 40 laps almost head-to-head, the cars collided. Prost was out, but Senna insisted on continuing and ended up winning. However, the Frenchman appealed the verdict, stating the Brazilian did not properly reenter the track. The appeal was granted, and Alessandro Nannini, who came in second, was made the winner instead.
Australian Grand Prix, 1986
This title-deciding race saw a face-off between soon-to-be international Formula 1 legends Senna, Nigel Mansell, Prost, and Nelson Piquet. By the 57th lap, Senna had fallen back, leaving the top positions to the remaining three. After a bunch of punctures, pit stops, and overtakes, Mansell emerged out in front.
But his time in the lead was short-lived as Mansell’s left rear tires soon exploded at 180 mph. For fear of this event repeating itself, the Williams’ team withdrew their second driver, Piquet, even though it meant forfeiting the championship to Prost.
Australia, 1994
The final event of the season was Damon Hill against Michael Schumacher, who was up by one point. The race began with Schumacher in the lead and Hill trying his best to reel him in and score a chance at the title.Â
A few seconds later, the German crashed into the British player. Schumacher got immediately disqualified, but Hill decided to stick it out and try to finish the race. He knew that, just as in horse racing tournaments, he could get the title even if he was the only driver left. Unfortunately, his bent suspension meant he could no longer continue and Hill had to concede the victory to Schumacher.
Brazilian Grand Prix, 2012
Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso were the two top candidates for the Formula 1 Championship in Interlagos, Brazil. Vettel started 13 points ahead of Alonso, so he needed to finish a few positions ahead of him to get the title.
After a few minutes, Vettel crashed into Bruno Senna in the 23rd lap. This crash caused him to spin around and fall into the 22nd position. To make matters worse, he had a slow pit stop caused by bad radio signals in the rain.Â
The fans were on the edge of their seats as the championship hung in the balance. Unexpected moments like these are why some Quatro casino fans sometimes prefer to bet on sports, despite how exciting the games in this casino are. Amazingly, Vettel ended up earning the title by climbing back to sixth.
Honorary Mentions
There are some races that, although they didn’t make it into the top five, deserve to be mentioned due to how memorable they are. Here are a few of them.Â
Azerbaijan 2017
In this unforgettable event, Vettel slammed his car into Lewis Hamilton’s Silver Arrows in retaliation to the Brit’s unexpected braking. The unprecedented slowdown cost the German driver part of his front wing, and he was not going to let that slide. Hamilton won the title that year, though.
Brazil 2008
For most of the race, it seemed like Hamilton, who entered as the points leader, would not score enough points to secure the title. Brazilian fans were gearing up to celebrate Felipe Massa’s victory. But in the nick of time, Hamilton overtook Timo Glock to earn the championship.
Conclusion
Formula 1 racing is an intense sport that serves as a testament to the strength of human skill and endurance. Each race provides a much-welcomed rush of adrenaline to the drivers as well as the fans. All the greatest races in the history of this sport have one thing in common: they showcase the excitement and drama that is F1.
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So the first 35 years of Formula One didn’t have any excitement.