Whether you are a new fan or a lifer, these are the 10 races that define Formula 1. All are available on F1 TV.
1. Brazil 2008 — Lewis Hamilton needs one point to win his first championship. Rain comes in the final laps. He drops to P6, losing the title, then passes Timo Glock on the final corner of the final lap to win by one point. Pure cinema.
2. Canada 2011 — Jenson Button starts last after multiple incidents, fights through the entire field in changing conditions, and wins. The race was over 4 hours long due to red flags. The greatest comeback drive in F1 history.
3. Abu Dhabi 2021 — Verstappen vs. Hamilton. The most controversial championship finale in history. Safety car controversy, last-lap pass for the title. You know the story.
4. Bahrain 2014 — Hamilton vs. Rosberg teammate battle. Wheel-to-wheel racing for the lead through multiple stints. The race that launched the Mercedes rivalry.
5. Brazil 2012 — Sebastian Vettel gets hit on lap 1, drops to last, charges back through the field in the rain. Wins the championship by 3 points. Alonso watching helplessly from P2.
6. Silverstone 2022 — Zhou Guanyu's horrific crash on lap 1 (he walked away), followed by a classic three-way battle between Leclerc, Sainz, and Hamilton. Racing at its finest after a terrifying start.
7. Germany 2019 — Verstappen wins from P2. The race has 7 different leaders. Both Mercedes crash out from the lead. Rain chaos.
8. Japan 2005 — Raikkonen overtakes Fisichella around the outside of 130R. One of the greatest single overtakes in history during a race full of them.
9. Austria 2019 — Verstappen overtakes Leclerc on the final lap with a controversial move. The rivalry between them begins here.
10. Sakhir 2020 — George Russell replaces Hamilton at Mercedes for one race and nearly wins. Mercedes pit crew puts the wrong tires on his car. Heartbreaking and incredible.
Sources: Formula1.com, F1 TV archive
Real talk — what are your thoughts?
Brazil 2008 is untouchable as number 1. The emotional rollercoaster of Hamilton losing and gaining the championship in a 30-second span is the greatest moment in all of motorsport.