Fighting for first: Five of the best feuds in F1 history

The Method 1 world has been doused in controversy forward of the ultimate race within the 2024 season thanks to 2 of its greatest stars.

Max Verstappen and George Russell’s war of words has been raging since post-race in Qatar. This very public feud is arguably the primary of its sort F1 followers have been capable of witness in at the very least three years, with Verstappen’s utter dominance quelling any actual cause for bickering as the remainder of the sector battled it out for the silver medal.

Now although, with Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari all scorching on the Dutchman’s heels, and with Red Bull set to lose the constructors title for the primary time since 2021, rigidity has returned in spades to the F1 paddock. With this in thoughts, there isn’t a higher time to make a journey down reminiscence lane in an effort to revisit among the sport’s most high-profile spats.

Michael Schumacher vs Damon Hill, 1994-1996

The 1994 F1 season noticed a fierce battle for bragging rights between Williams’ Damon Hill, the son of two-time World Champion: Graham Hill, and a future icon of the game: Benetton’s Michael Schumacher. The younger German was dominant via the primary seven races of the season, profitable all however one, earlier than his title marketing campaign was derailed in his disqualification from each the British and Belgian Grand Prix’s — with the previous additionally leading to an extra two race ban.

Hill made probably the most of this chance, profitable the 4 races Schumacher missed, slicing his rival’s result in only one level heading into the season finale in Australia. As soon as in Adelaide, and halfway via the race, Schumacher seemingly turned into Hill because the Briton challenged him on the within of a nook, sending the Benneton flying into the barrier and ending his race. And whereas Hill managed to hobble again to the pits, injury to his automotive pressured him to retire, touchdown Schumacher the crown.

Schumacher would win his second title the next season, earlier than Hill bought the higher of him in 1996 in the course of the German’s first 12 months with Ferrari.

“Michael and I really bought on nicely, however on the observe we hated one another,” Hill revealed when talking with Bild. 

“It was and isn’t potential to be every other approach if you wish to grow to be Method 1 world champion. There was no room for niceties.”

Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton, 2021

The 2021 season was the very definition of a two-horse race, with Hamilton chasing his eighth world championship and Verstappen his first. The duo went backwards and forwards all through the season, profitable all however three races in complete and ending over 150 factors forward of third-placed Valtteri Bottas within the driver standings.

Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing RB16B is loaded onto a truck after his crash

Photograph by: Sutton Photographs

Tempers boiled over with three notably notable on-track incidents that 12 months, kicking off with a lap one collision between the 2 on the British Grand Prix, sending Verstappen into the barrier and ultimately to hospital. Regardless of a 10-second penalty, Hamilton would go on to win the race, celebrating fervently in entrance of his house followers — one thing that didn’t go down nicely with Verstappen.

Later that season, the 2 would collide but once more on the Italian Grand Prix. On what turned out to be a momentous race for a resurgent McLaren workforce, Hamilton and Verstappen jostled for sixth place mid-way via, colliding on the primary chicane because the Pink Bull mounted the Mercedes’ nostril. The incident pressured each to retire and handed Daniel Ricciardo his first win since 2018. 

Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, appears to be like on Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12 after colliding

Photograph by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Photographs

Their title combat got here right down to the wire, with the trophy nonetheless up for grabs on the closing race in Abu Dhabi. The race will forever be remembered for one of the most controversial on-track decisions in recent memory because of then race director Michael Masi. His determination to permit the lapped automobiles between Hamilton in first and Verstappen in second to return to the lead lap earlier than the race went inexperienced with only one lap remaining all however handed the Dutchman the title on a silver platter as he took full benefit of his contemporary tires. In the end, it additionally value Masi his job and compelled the FIA to maneuver into injury management mode to avoid wasting additional shedding face.

Lewis Hamilton vs Nico Rosberg, 2016

Probably the most intense intra-team battles in current reminiscence, the 2016 season marked Rosberg’s first title marketing campaign, and finally his final in F1. Having dominated the primary 4 rounds of the season, Rosberg’s scorching run came to an abrupt end in Spain. Trailing Rosberg early, Hamilton discovered himself on the grass on lap one as they vied for the highest spot, inflicting the Briton to lose management and spin, taking his teammate out within the course of.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid and Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid collide on the opening lap of the race

Photograph by: Motorsport Photographs

Later, on the Austrian Grand Prix, and with Rosberg main Hamilton on the ultimate lap, the teammates collided but once more, taking out the German’s wing because the Briton romped house to win. In the meantime, Rosberg, whose wing was now lodged beneath his Mercedes, might solely handle a fourth-placed end.

The championship lead undulated backwards and forwards between the 2 till Rosberg sealed the deal in Abu Dhabi. On the finish of the day, this battle not solely raised blood pressures all through the Mercedes storage, however it finally dropped at an finish a protracted friendship between the 2 protagonists.

Nelson Piquet vs Nigel Mansell, 1986-1987

Nigel Mansell as soon as mentioned of his former Williams teammate, via Motorsport Magazine, “He’s bought all of the components to be an excellent particular person, it’s simply that he chooses to not be.” By comparability, Piquet beforehand labeled Mansell “a quick fool.” If these feedback don’t sum up their relationship completely, nothing will.

The pair’s rivalry got here to heads throughout their two-year stint as co-pilots of the immensely profitable Honda-powered Williams between 1986 and 1987. The pairing of two No.1 caliber drivers resulted in them getting in each other’s approach, dividing 9 wins of the 16-race calendar between them in 1986. The season got here right down to the ultimate race in Adelaide the place Mansell, Piquet, and Prost have been all inside touching distance of the crown. Sadly for Williams, a burst tire on the Briton’s automotive adopted by a visit to the pits for Piquet to keep away from the identical dire consequence, allowed Prost to say the win and the title.

Nelson Piquet, Williams FW11, Nigel Mansell, Williams FW11

Photograph by: Sutton Photographs

In 1987, Mansell once more led the pack when it comes to wins, however a string of second-place finishes for Piquet and Mansell lacking Japan attributable to an harm, sealed the deal for the Brazilian who received his third drivers’ title.

The 2 went their separate methods the next season, and it was clear that there was no love misplaced between them. In a outstanding interview with Playboy, Piquet labeled Mansell “argumentative and “impolite,” including that he felt he had “a extremely ugly spouse.”

“He’s boastful, and after he began profitable races he began treating everybody actually badly. In addition to which, he’s written off piles of automobiles. Nobody needed him to win.”

Alain Prost vs Ayrton Senna, 1988-1993

Simply probably the most high-profile spat within the sport’s historical past, this battle dominated a lot of the late Nineteen Eighties and early Nineties as each masters of the craft vied for titles. Issues turned notably bitter between Prost and Senna on the 1989 San Marino Grand Prix, throughout their second and closing season as teammates at McLaren. 

Having agreed that whoever reached the primary flip within the lead wouldn’t be challenged by the opposite, Senna led the way in which early on. A purple flag waved, and when the race restarted, Prost was within the lead. The Brazilian, believing that he maintained the proper to guide the race after the preliminary begin, reclaimed the lead shortly after.

Alain Prost, McLaren, Ayrton Senna, McLaren

Photograph by: Sutton Photographs

Later that season, their rivalry reached boiling level on the Japanese Grand Prix with each trying to declare the title. In the course of the race, Senna tried to overhaul Prost for the lead, just for the duo to collide. Prost was pressured to retire whereas Senna battled again to say the win, solely to then be disqualified for illegally rejoining the observe following the crash. Because of this, Prost was topped the world champion for a 3rd time. 

A 12 months later, and again in Japan, the title was once more determined by a crash involving Senna and Prost — this time on the very first nook because the Brazilian dived to retake the lead from the now Ferrari driver.