Formula 1’s Most Contentious Closings: From Senna–Prost Collisions to Abu Dhabi 2021
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Suzuka, Japan – Formula 1 is no stranger to dramatic season finales, but some championships have ended in controversy that continues to reverberate thru the sport decades later. From deliberate collisions to disputed safety car procedures, these are the most hotly debated conclusions in F1 history.
2. Abu Dhabi-GP 2021
Sergio Perez In the second Red Bull holding off Hamilton, the Briton looked like the sure winner – 12 seconds ahead with six laps to go – when nicholas Latifi crashed and the safety car was called out.
Red Bull immediately called verstappen into the pits for fresh tires while Hamilton stayed outside. If it had been any other race in World Championship history, it would probably have ended under yellow. Instead, only the lapped cars were allowed to lap back between the two title rivals (and only these). The race was released for one final lap.
A crash or an overtaking maneuver was all verstappen needed. He made his move in turn 5, Hamilton gave him space, but had no chance on the old tires. Verstappen won races and titles. The discussions that followed were probably the most bitter in sports history, and race director Michael Masi ultimately lost his job.
1.Japan-GP 1990
As in 1989, the decision in suzuka was made in the penultimate race, but this time the signs were reversed. Prost, now at Ferrari, had to win to have a chance of overtaking Senna and McLaren at the finale in Adelaide.
© Sutton/Getty
Ayrton Senna attacks Alain Prost after the start of the 1990 Japanese GP Zoom
Senna was on pole again, with Prost next to him. Senna,still angry about the events of 1989,demanded that pole position be moved to the clean outside lane,but FISA president Jean-Marie Balestre vetoed it.
Prost started better than Senna on the dirty inside. Undeterred, Senna made an optimistic maneuver on the inside against the Ferrari in the first corner. His left front wheel hit Prost’s right rear wheel at high speed, and both cars flew into the gravel trap and out of the race.
“We were both out and it was a shitty
