From blockbuster rivalries and nerve-wracking head-to-heads to unbelievable overtakes that get you on the edge of your seat, the beauty and elegance of Formula 1 is echoed beyond the drifts and tyre tracks.
However, the essence of the sport itself is fiercely represented by spectacular manoeuvres etched in the annals of its storied history. All of these moments are captured in essence by expert analyst and leading author at Slotsjudge, Fabio Duarte, who takes a look at his 10 most memorable moments and best Formula 1 races in the history of the sport.
Top 10 best Formula 1 races of all time
Here is his list of the best Formula 1 races of all time although it should be noted that this is a personal list and readers could have a differing opinion.
10: Niki Lauda vs James Hunt
Niki Lauda’s intense match-up against James Hunt in the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix is not just any contest — it was a tale of rivalry, revival, and respect. The context of this legendary Formula 1 race was further magnified by the fact that Lauda had survived a life-threatening crash a few months earlier in the German Grand Prix, where he suffered horrific burns that put his career and his life at risk.
But to the surprise of the entire Formula 1 world, Lauda makes a legendary comeback just six weeks later to take his battle with James Hunt down to the final race in Fuji, Japan. Now, even though the unrelenting Lauda eventually withdrew from the race due to treacherous weather, the entire contest lives on in history as one of the most exciting moments in F1 history.
9: Michael Schumacher’s incredible resilience at Spa-Francorchamps
In the world of motor racing, not many names could echo alongside that of the 7-time world champion, Michael Schumacher, and achievements like his triumph at the 1995 Belgian Grand Prix further solidify this fact.
Despite it being in the earlier years of his career and prior to his unforgettable Ferrari journey, Schumacher displayed experience, control, and strategy unlike anything ever seen before, to defy the odds and deliver one of the most extraordinary victories in wet weather conditions on a notoriously dangerous track.
8: Jackie Stewart’s total dominance at the German Grand Prix
While Formula 1 has certainly seen its fair share of extreme dominance on the tracks, not many are as astounding as Jackie Stewart’s complete domination of the 1968 German Grand Prix. Firstly, the torrential rain and dense fog meant the conditions became so bad that only seven of 21 starters could complete the race on what turned into a very slippery track.
Secondly, Stewart entered this grand prix with a broken wrist that was heavily strapped and showed he was in great discomfort.
But despite the treacherous conditions, the veteran still managed to not only manoeuvre his way past the starting flag but also put clear daylight between himself and the next best driver. Stewart won the race by a staggering 4 minutes and 3 seconds, and that remains one of the largest winning margins in Formula 1 history.
7: Ayrton Senna’s European Grand Prix masterclass
At the 1993 European Grand Prix, the world witnessed one of the most spectacular laps ever in Formula 1’s history. Underdog, Ayrton Senna took a surprise lead from the opening lap in a race against top contenders like Michael Schumacher, Karl Wendlinger, Damon Hill, and Alain Prost.
No one expected him to be at the top but in a particular show of excellence, he decided to step up and show his worth. And till today, the racing world still views that feat as nothing short of pure motorsport artistry.
6: Italian Grand Prix in 1971
While dominant races showcase a driver’s excellence, nothing gets fans out of their seat like a close contest with a chaotic finish, and that’s exactly what the 1971 Italian Grand Prix offered. For one, Peter Gethin, who emerged as the winner, finished only 0.01 seconds ahead of the second-placed driver, the narrowest margin ever recorded in history.
Also, all the top 5 drivers were only separated by a mere 0.61 seconds — another record for the closest top 5 finishes.
In short, what Monza experienced was a once-in-a-lifetime display of lightning-fast speed, impeccable timing, pristine precision, and divine luck, and that’s why this race forever belongs in the archives as one of the most memorable Formula 1 races of all time.
5: Lewis Hamilton at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2008
The 2008 Brazilian GP is special for many reasons, but most importantly for the fact that it birthed the beast, Lewis Hamilton. In what was a nail-biting finish in Sao Paulo, Hamilton orchestrated a masterful overtake in the last corner to seal his first FIA Formula 1 World Drivers’ championship.
This victory announced Lewis Hamilton to the world properly, and got him in the history books as the youngest driver to win the championship at the time.
4: Juan Manuel Fangio’s legendary comeback at the 1957 German Grand Prix
For another of the finest Formula one moments, Juan Manuel Fangio’s legendary comeback in the 1957 German GP. This is one race that shows that it takes courage, driving skill, determination, and sportsmanship to make it in Formula 1.
After a problematic pit stop that left him trailing by a minute to his rivals, Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins, Fangio’s relentless attitude and epic overtaking moves helped him pull off the most impossible recovery.
Lap after lap, the veteran smashed records for the fastest lap times to overtake the duo, clinched his fifth Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship, and established himself as one of the greatest to ever grace the tracks.
3: Kimi Raikkonen’s magical dash to the 2007 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship
While it’s one thing to be trailing in a race, it’s a whole different nightmare to be trailing household names like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. That was exactly where Kimi Raikkonen found himself, going into the final two races of the 2007 FIA Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
However, Raikkonen would quickly capitalize on slip-ups from the leaders to win both the Chinese and Brazilian Grands Prix and ultimately pull off another of the most insane comebacks in the history of Formula 1.
2: Legendary wheel-to-wheel battle of Dijon at the 1979 French Grand Prix
Not often do we talk about second-place finishes, but Gilles Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux’s breathtaking wheel-to-wheel battle for second place in the 1979 French GP belongs in the pages of the history books.
Both drivers kept swapping places for several of the final laps, dishing out a rivalry so intense that it completely stole the show and all the attention. In the end, Villeneuve came out on top to finish second, but their chaotic, wheel-bumping contest was undoubtedly the highlight of the event.
1: Ayrton Senna’s pole lap at 1988 Monaco Grand Prix
Ayrton Senna’s mastery of Monaco’s unforgiving layout is well-known, but it’s his heroics at the 1988 Monaco Grand Prix that crowned him king of pit lane. Delivering a pole position margin of over 1.4 seconds may not sound extraordinary, but doing so in such a short street circuit layout is completely unheard of.
Talking about the lap, Senna described it as an “out-of-the-body experience”, saying: “I suddenly realised that I was no longer driving the car consciously. I was already in pole position, and I just kept going faster and faster.”
Conclusion
These iconic Formula 1 moments remind us why the sport captivates millions with its blend of speed, strategy, and sheer willpower. As F1 evolves, more legendary chapters are still to be written.
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