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Photo: Race Pictures
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From Brazil 2008 to Adelaide 1994: F1's most dramatic title deciders

19:48, 20 Dec
Updated: 19:58, 20 Dec
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Formula 1 has had a storied history of tense title battles and nail-biting championship deciders.
Lando Norris won his first world championship this year, coming out on top in Abu Dhabi at the end of a three-way duel.
The British driver finished the race in third place, enough to take the title ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
F1 has also seen many other title battles go down to the last race. Let's take a look at five of the most dramatic.

1997 Jerez - Schumacher vs Villeneuve

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Photo: RacePictures
The 1997 season saw Jacques Villeneuve win the world championship in dramatic circumstances at Jerez.
The Canadian started on pole position ahead of Michael Schumacher and Heinz-Harold Frentzen all set identical times.
Schumacher took the lead at the start and led 40 of the first 47 laps in the European Grand Prix.
Williams' Villeneuve stayed within touching distance of the race leader and dived down the inside at the Dry Sac corner on Lap 48. The pair collided, and Schumacher was stuck in the gravel.
Villeneuve limped him to finish in third, enough to take the world championship. Schumacher was disqualified from the entire championship in his second year at Ferrari.

Brazil 2012 - Vettel vs Alonso

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Vettel Brazil 2012: Image credit: RacePictures
The V8 era was nearing its conclusion, and the 2012 season saw two top drivers compete for their third world title.
Vettel qualified fourth with Alonso down in eighth while two McLarens locked out the front row.
The first 20 laps were breathless as the rain fell. Alonso pulled off an uncompromising double overtake on teammate Felipe Massa and Mark Webber on the second lap.
By contrast, Vettel had the worst possible start, getting hit by Bruno Senna on the first lap and dropping to 22nd place.
Alonso couldn't take advantage and finished second. Vettel drove back to sixth place and won his third consecutive championship.

Australia 1994 - Schumacher vs Hill

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Damon Hill - Credit: Race Pictures
Damon Hill won the world championship in 1996 but missed out in agonising circumstances two years earlier.
In one of the most famous title deciders in F1 history, Hill and Schumacher battled for the title at Adelaide in 1994.
Schmacher qualified second on the grid ahead of his rival, and Williams' Hill chased the Benetton driver for the first 36 laps.
Hill applied relentless pressure before Schumacher hit the wall at East Terrace corner. The German's suspension was broken but Hill dived down the inside.
The pair made contact and Schumacher's car lifted onto two wheels before hitting the barrier. Hill also failed to finish as his front suspension was damaged.

Japan 1989 - Senna vs Prost 

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Four-time F1 World Champion Alain Prost
McLaren dominated in 1988 and 1989 with their star-studded lineup of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
Senna dominated qualifying and took pole, 1.7 seconds ahead of Prost in second.
Prost took the lead off the line before the top two in the championship hit each other at the Casio chicane.
Senna attempted a pass, but the McLarens collided. Prost's race was over while Senna continued. The Brazilian took the chequered flag before being disqualified for rejoining the track illegally. This gave Prost the title after he was beaten by Senna in 1988.

Brazil 2008 - Hamilton vs Massa 

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Lewis Hamilton in 2008 Brazilian GP - Photo: Race Pictures
Lewis Hamilton has won seven world championships in his career, and his first from 2008 may be his most dramatic.
The British driver went into the final round in Brazil seven points ahead of Massa, knowing fifth place would be enough for the title.
He started fourth as Massa led from pole position. The Brazilian won his home race, doing all he could in the rain.
Hamilton was running sixth on the last lap, unable to pass 21-year-old Vettel. The rain increased, and Timo Glock, still on dry tyres, was overtaken by both Vettel and Hamilton, which gave Hamilton the all-important fifth place.

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