F1 championship deciders that ended badly

The F1 drivers' championship being decided in the final race is a dream at the start of every season.

That was certainly the case this year as Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri all went into the curtain-closer in Abu Dhabi in with a shout of landing the title.

At the chequered flag, it was McLaren driver Norris who emerged victorious, pipping Red Bull's Verstappen by two points, denying him a fifth consecutive crown.

It was a proper winner-takes-all showdown that was good for the fans and good for F1. 

But what happens when things go awry? We've taken a look back at some of the most controversial endings in the sport's history. 

1964: John Surtees v Graham Hill v Jim Clark

It is rare to have a three-way title shootout, which, of course, is what we were treated to this past season.

Sixty-one years previously, the all-British trio of John Surtees, Graham Hill and Jim Clark headed to Mexico City for the finale. Hill was on 39 points, Surtees 34, and Clark 30, in the days of nine points for a win. 

Hill looked set to deliver the crown for BRM, his second after 1962, but on lap 31 of 65, he was punted out of a title-winning third place by Lorenzo Bandini.

This gave the title to leader Clark, who would win on countback if the Lotus held together. It did so until two laps from the end when an oil line broke, relegating him to fifth. This handed the title back to Hill.

But Ferrari realised that if third-place Surtees was waved through into second, he would win the title. 

On the last lap, that is exactly what happened as the driver of the other Ferrari ceded to his team leader.

And that driver's name? Lorenzo Bandini.

1989: Alain Prost v Ayrton Senna

At Suzuka, the equation was clear. If Ayrton Senna failed to finish, Alain Prost would be the world champion. 

So, Prost made sure Senna failed to finish. 

The McLaren team-mates engaged in a thrilling chase at Honda's home track, with Prost's car set up for straight-line speed. 

Eventually, on lap 47 of 53, Senna made his move up the inside of the final chicane. Prost turned in early. The two collided and came to a halt, with Prost promptly throwing off the belts, jumping out and considering the race over.

Senna, though, got going again. He pitted for a new nose and won on the road, but was quickly booted out by the FIA for obtaining a push from the marshals and cutting the chicane when he rejoined.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis appealed, but the result stood, with Prost declared the world champion for a third time. He then promptly took his #1 sticker to Ferrari for 1990.

1990: Alain Prost v Ayrton Senna - the rematch

At Suzuka, the equation was clear. If Alain Prost failed to finish, Ayrton Senna would be the world champion. 

So, Senna made sure Prost failed to finish. 

Senna was already incensed that pole position, at the behest of FIA president Jean-Marie Balestre, was moved to the 'dirty' side of the grid and away from the racing line, thus allowing P2 man Prost the cleaner, grippier side for his launch.

Although Senna made a good start, it was Prost who took the lead. Senna, though, tried to go through on the inside at Turn 1, and the inevitable happened, leading to one of legendary late commentator Murray Walker's famous lines - "That is amazing, but I fear absolutely predictable."

Senna was the world champion, but F1 was the loser.

1994 & 1997: Michael Schumacher's collisions

After the loss of Senna in 1994, Michael Schumacher emerged as 'the man to beat', challenging Damon Hill for the crown in 1994 in a controversial season blighted by disqualifications, bans and allegations of cheating.

In Australia, Schumacher was leading in the finale when he went off. Realising his car was terminally damaged, he turned into Hill, taking both out. It was the third time in six seasons that a collision had decided the world championship. 

Three years later, with Schumacher at Ferrari, he again ran into a Williams in the title-decider, this time Jacques Villeneuve at Jerez.

However, as Martin Brundle observed: "You hit the wrong part of him, my friend" as he turned in to try and eliminate Villeneuve, who had gone for a do-or-die move just after the pit-stops. 

For this, Schumacher became the first, and to date, only driver to be disqualified from winning a championship as Villeneuve claimed the crown.

2021: Max Verstappen v Lewis Hamilton

Probably the most watched F1 race of all time, and quite possibly the most controversial ending to a grand prix. 

Lewis Hamilton was all set to win a record-breaking eighth world title until Nicholas Latifi crashed with five laps to go in Abu Dhabi. 

Normal procedure went out of the window as the FIA race director at the time, Michael Masi, failed to correctly apply the restart rules. It allowed Verstappen, on fresh soft tyres, one chance to pass Hamilton, who was on worn, hard rubber, on the final lap. 

He did so, and the after-effects still linger to this day.