From championship deciders to unforgettable overtakes, these moments defined entire seasons.
The final lap of a Formula 1 race has a unique power to reshape careers, championships and the sport’s history itself. When drivers reach that stage separated by fractions of a second, the pressure creates scenes of pure drama — moments that fans and teams remember for decades.
Across the championship’s long history, several races have delivered extraordinary conclusions in which fortunes flipped in a matter of corners. Among them are legendary duels involving Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Max Verstappen, Kimi Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso, each leaving an indelible mark on Formula 1.
Iconic last-lap clashes that shocked the F1 World
One of the most remarkable finishes occurred at the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix, where Kimi Räikkönen completed a stunning charge from 17th on the grid. After relentlessly hunting Giancarlo Fisichella in the closing laps, Räikkönen executed a decisive move around the outside of Turn 1 on the final lap to secure victory for McLaren.
The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix, Formula 1’s longest-ever race, produced another unforgettable ending. Jenson Button, after dropping to last place twice and colliding with both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, found himself chasing Sebastian Vettel on the final lap. Under immense pressure, Vettel ran wide, allowing Button to seize an astonishing victory.
At the 2005 European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, Fernando Alonso inherited the win in dramatic fashion. Kimi Räikkönen had led convincingly until a severely worn front tyre failed under braking at Turn 1 on the final lap, sending the Finn into the gravel and handing Alonso a crucial championship triumph.
Championships decided in the final corners
Perhaps the most controversial last-lap moment in modern F1 came at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen level on points entering the race, a late Safety Car reshaped the contest. Verstappen, on fresh tyres, passed Hamilton at Turn 5 on the final lap to claim his first world championship.
Another intense showdown unfolded at the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix. Mercedes teammates Hamilton and Rosberg collided while fighting for the lead on the last lap. Hamilton went on to win the race, while Rosberg dropped to fourth and later received a time penalty, a flashpoint in their bitter championship rivalry.
Together, these races illustrate how Formula 1’s greatest stories are often written not over seasons — but in the final few corners of a single lap.
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