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What was the closest drivers' title battle in F1 history?

Niki Lauda won his 1984 F1 title by .5 points. Paul-Henri Cahier/Getty Images

Max Verstappen's streak of four consecutive World Drivers' Championships came to an end in 2025, with McLaren's Lando Norris taking home his first title.

Norris bested Verstappen by two points in the standings, which is among the smallest gaps in history. Here's a look at the closest title battles in F1.


.5 points

  • Niki Lauda over Alain Prost (1984)

1 point

  • Mike Hawthorn over Stirling Moss (1958)

  • Phil Hill over Wolfgang von Trips (1961)

  • John Surtees over Graham Hill (1964)

  • James Hunt over Niki Lauda (1976)

  • Nelson Piquet over Carlos Reutemann (1981)

  • Michael Schumacher over Damon Hill (1994)

  • Kimi Raikkonen over Lewis Hamilton (2007)

  • Lewis Hamilton over Felipe Massa (2008)

2 points

  • Nelson Piquet over Alain Prost (1983)

  • Alain Prost over Nigel Mansell (1986)

  • Mika Hakkinen over Eddie Irvine (1999)

  • Michael Schumacher over Kimi Raikkonen (2003)

  • Lando Norris over Max Verstappen (2025)

3 points

  • Giuseppe Farina over Juan Manuel Fangio (1950)

  • Juan Manuel Fangio over Stirling Moss (1956)

  • Emerson Fittipaldi over Clay Regazzoni (1974)

  • Ayrton Senna over Alain Prost (1988)

  • Sebastian Vettel over Fernando Alonso (2010)

4 points

  • Jack Brabham over Tony Brooks (1959)

  • Jody Scheckter over Gilles Villeneuve (1979)

  • Sebastian Vettel over Fernando Alonso (2010)

5 points

  • Denny Hulme over Jack Brabham (1967)

  • Jochen Rindt over Jacky Ickx (1970)

  • Keke Rosberg over Didier Pironi (1982)

  • Nico Rosberg over Lewis Hamilton (2006)

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