Abu Dhabi, (DPA) .- For the first time in the history of Formula 1, four drivers reach the last Grand Prix of the year with the possibility of being champions, but before that there were also heart-stopping finishes in the premier category of motorsport.
The Spanish Fernando Alonso, the Australian Mark Webber, the German Sebastian Vettel and the British Lewis Hamilton can take the title tomorrow in Abu Dhabi.
Since the inception of Formula 1 in 1950, nine times three drivers have entered the final race with championship options. In 2008 there were only two, but the final fight between Hamilton and Felipe Massa went down in history as one of the most exciting.
1950: Before the last Grand Prix, Juan Manuel Fangio was fighting with Luigi Fagiola and Nino Farina, who won the race and secured the first title.
1959: Jack Brabham arrived as leader ahead of Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks. Although he ran out of gas with 800 meters to go, as Brooks was only third and Moss retired, it was enough for Brabham to be champion.
1964: Graham Hill had John Surtees and Jim Clark on his heels before the last race. Hill did not score due to an accident, Clark retired and Surtees was world champion.
1968: This time Graham Hill triumphed. His pursuers, Jackie Stewart and Denny Hulme, failed to catch up with the Briton in the final race.
1974Emerson Fittipaldi was enough to be fourth to defend his lead against Clay Regazzoni and Jody Scheckter. His rivals failed to score.
1981: Perfect job for Nelson Piquet. With the fourth place it was enough to be champion. Carlos Reutemann was missing a point. Jacques Lafitte left empty.
1983: Again Piquet prevails, this time to Alain Prost. Piquet was third and Prost did not finish. Rene Arnoux could do nothing.
1986: Prost takes the crown in the last race. The leader, Nigel Mansell, had to leave and Prost won the event. Piquet left empty this time.
2007: Lewis Hamilton wastes a title almost certainly. Kimi Räikkönen beats Briton and Fernando Alonso at the end.
2008: The title is decided in the last curves. Felipe Massa wins in Brazil and feels like champion for a few seconds, but finally Hamilton achieves fifth place and with it, the title.