At speed: Formula 1’s most spectacular races

Already tomorrow, September 29, the main race of the Formula 1 VTB Grand Prix of Russia 2019 will take place. For the sixth time in the framework of the Russian stage of the world championship, the best drivers will meet at the Sochi Autodrome. Professional pilots on the most powerful cars will overcome 53 laps on the track in the Olympic city, the total length of the distance will be 309.745 kilometers.

On the eve of the decisive race we wish good luck to all drivers and recall the most exciting moments in the history of Formula 1. The championship, which lasted 39 seconds, a lot of crashed Ferraris and Michael Schumacher’s triumph – in our selection.

Lewis Hamilton’s decisive corner. The 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix.

The final round of the 59th world championship was approaching. Lewis Hamilton arrived in Sao Paulo with a seven-point lead after the Chinese Grand Prix. This lead over his main rival, Brazilian driver Felipe Massa, meant that Lewis needed to finish at least fifth in the upcoming race to win his first championship title.

Both Hamilton and Massa started from the most favorable position. The Briton steadily went fourth for almost the entire distance, while his competitor from Brazil became the leader of the race. It would seem that everything was going according to plan and the fourth position would eventually bring Lewis the championship. But the elements had their own plans: in the last laps of the race it started to rain.

Most of the racers, among them was Hamilton, decided to go to the boxes to change the rubber to rain. At this point, they gave the opportunity to the remaining on the track pilots, who risked to continue the race without changing tires, to go ahead. And, indeed, Lewis was bypassed, displaced to 6th place, Sebastian Vettel and Timo Glock.

At the last corner in the increasing rain Hamilton overtook Glock and in 38.907 seconds from the moment when Massa finished, finished the race fifth. Felipe’s championship lasted just over half a minute and Lewis was crowned Formula One driver for the first time in his career. He is also the first black driver to win the world championship.

The duel between Gilles Villeneuve and René Arnoux. French Grand Prix, 1979.

This race in the French city of Dijon went down in the history of Formula 1 thanks to a tense confrontation between two high-class pilots: Canadian Gilles Villeneuve and Frenchman René Arnoux. In the fight for second place they changed positions seven times, overtaking each other on braking and acceleration, using the full width of the track with roadsides, colliding wheels and flying out. Gilles was able to finally overtake his rival only at the last corner, when René went into it wider than it was necessary. At the end of the race, Villeneuve and Arnoux were separated by only a quarter of a second.

Subsequently, both competitors spoke enthusiastically about their confrontation and praised each other. Gilles called the stage of the Grand Prix in France in 1979 the most pleasant racing memory. René, in turn, admitted that he fought with the highest-ranked pilot of Formula.

The duel with Gilles I will never forget. You know, you can only race like that with someone you completely trust, and such people are not often caught. Yes, he beat me, and he beat me in France, but I’m not sad about it. I know I lost to the best driver in the world,” Arnoux said.

By the way, Villeneuve entered the history of races for another reason. Many Formula experts believe that no one in the world has not crashed as many cars “Ferrari” as Gilles. He squeezed the maximum out of the machines and was ready to continue the race even with a fly off the wheel. Enzo Ferrari did not tolerate such an attitude to the technique, but Gilles could forgive everything. The fact that the Italian designer saw in the Canadian racer huge potential and fighting character, making Villeneuve similar to the heroes of the pre-war time. For example, Tazio Nuvolari, who won the first championship titles for Ferrari.

Ayrton Senna’s dream. European Grand Prix, 1993.

The race, held in rainy weather at Donington Park, is considered to be one of the best in the career of the Brazilian Senna. On the starting field Ayrton was in fourth position, but due to a very bad start he fell behind and drove fifth.

We have no idea what caused the subsequent events: sporting anger, luck, unrivaled pilotage or all of these combined. But did not pass the racers and a full circle, as lagging behind initially “McLaren” Ayrton overtook everyone in bad weather conditions and went to the leading position. And among his rivals was the legendary Michael Schumacher!

According to the final results, Senna was able to break away from almost the entire peloton more than a whole lap. Later the Brazilian called the race in Donington a dream.

Rain victory of Michael Schumacher. Spanish Grand Prix, 1996.

If you ask to choose the most mesmerizing race Schumacher, then, no doubt, many will point you to the stage of the Grand Prix in Spain in 1996. Complicating the task of the German pilot not only terrible conditions, but also the bolide “Ferrari” F310, which, to put it mildly, was not all right.

After the car was released, I told Michael that his car looks much worse than all the others – recalled the British racer Eddie Irvine – it was just a disaster. Michael did a tremendous job of driving the thing because the car was a piece of junk.”

Despite the constant problems Schumacher had with the F310, in that race his piloting was amazing. The car, surprisingly, succumbed to the driver and responded to all his wishes. Michael won a spectacular victory in the rain, ahead of his nearest rival Jean Alesi by 45 seconds. After the race, the German admitted that, without knowing the result ahead, he would not have bet a penny on his victory.

Night race. Bahrain Grand Prix, 2014.

The race, which we refer to as the most exciting not only because of the beautiful victory of Lewis Hamilton and many dangerous moments, up to the overturn of the car Esteban Gurierrez. Race in Bahrain became the most picturesque in the history of F-1, because it was held in the evening. Bright spotlights, pilots flying at the speed of light against the background of the setting sun, the growing tension – breathtaking!

The first night race in Formula 1 was held in 2008 in Singapore. It was so spectacular that the successful experience decided to repeat in 2009 in Abu Dhabi and in 2014 in Bahrain. Now races in the dark have become a trend among the rich stages.

Formula 1 night race