With Abu Dhabi set to host the first double-points race in Formula One history in November as a bid to add more excitement to the season finale, Gary Meenaghan looks at how the format could have altered the outcomes of recent title fights.
2008 season
What Happened: Felipe Massa won the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix but lost the championship to Lewis Hamilton, who sneaked fifth at the last turn to take the title by one point.
The final lap was arguably the most dramatic climax in the six-decade history of F1 racing.
What Could Have Happened: Felipe Massa would have won the race, taken double points and comfortably claimed his first world championship in front of his home fans at the Interlagos track in Sao Paulo.
Lewis Hamilton would have missed out on the title by five points.
2009 season
What Happened: Jenson Button arrived for the final race in Abu Dhabi having sealed his first world title the previous week in Brazil.
He finished third and Sebastian Vettel won the inaugural race at Yas Marina Circuit.
What Could Have Happened: The title would have still been alive in Abu Dhabi, but so long as the result stayed the same, the outcome would not have changed.
Instead of Button winning the title by nine points, he would have won by six.
2010 season
What Happened: Four drivers arrived at what promised to be a thrilling final race of the year capable of finishing the season as world champion.
Championship leader Fernando Alonso got stuck in traffic at Yas Marina and Sebastian Vettel won the race and his first title.
What Could Have Happened: Jenson Button would have also been mathematically capable of claiming the title, making it five potential championship winners at the final race.
Vettel would still have won. Lewis Hamilton would have finished third instead of fourth in the drivers’ standings.
2011 season
What Happened: Vettel romped to a second straight championship, winning the title in Japan with races in Korea, India, Abu Dhabi and Brazil still to be contested.
What Could Have Happened: Vettel would have had to wait until the race in Korea before being crowned the sport’s youngest double champion. Races in India, Abu Dhabi and Brazil would have remained dead rubbers.
2012 season
What Happened: Vettel arrived with a 13-point lead over Alonso but spun on the opening lap and found himself at the back of the field. He recovered to finish sixth and claim a third consecutive title, beating Alonso by three points.
What Could Have Happened: Alonso, in finishing second, would have taken his tally in the standings to 296, while Vettel’s sixth-place finish would have seen him finish on 289.
The result would have had Alonso claim a third drivers’ title solely because of double points in Brazil.
2013 season
What Happened: Vettel won his fourth straight title in India before the races in Abu Dhabi, the United States and Brazil had been contested.
What Could Have Happened: Vettel would still have won his fourth straight title in India and the races in Abu Dhabi, the United States and Brazil would have remained irrelevant in the race for the championship.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
