Hamilton vs. Verstappen, Hunt vs. Lauda or Senna vs. Prost – ranking of the best F1 rivalries | F1 | Sports

Their rivalry became particularly dramatic in 1976 when Hunt moved to McLaren and put him in a car competitive enough to take on Lauda’s Ferrari, which had secured the Austrian’s first world title the previous year.

Hunt struggled with mechanical issues early in the campaign that resulted in four retirements in the first six races, while Lauda won four and finished second twice.

At the Spanish Grand Prix – the fourth race of the season – Hunt was disqualified for driving a car that was judged to be 1.8 cm too wide. The Englishman appealed and was later reinstated as the winner, but the decision had set the tone for a volatile and bitter season.

A drama ensued at the British Grand Prix when Hunt took the win simply because his win was not recognized after a Ferrari complaint about a Lauda and Hunt incident on the first lap that resulted in a restart of the race. The result seemed to give Lauda the title before the German Grand Prix.

Lauda suffered a terrible, almost fatal accident at the Nürburgring. He was left with permanent scars from the burns and severely damaged lungs as Hunt secured victory in the restarted race.

With Lauda apparently out of the picture, it seemed like Hunt would head for the title easily, but the Austrian recovered heroically and was back in the driver’s seat of his Ferrari just six weeks later.

At the Japanese Grand Prix – the last race of the season – Lauda retired early because he could not blink due to his burns on his face. His resignation meant Hunt had to finish fourth or better to take his first title and he would be dramatically third.

Their historic rivalry is forever immortalized in 2013’s Move Rush, one of the great racing films of recent times.

1. Ayrton Senna versus Alain Prost

Is Ayrton Senna vs Alain Prost the biggest rivalry in F1 history? It is difficult to argue against this.

No other head-to-head rivalry holds more world titles as the duo won seven between 1985 and 1993 – and bitter enemies clashed as teammates at McLaren and as enemies after Prost moved to Ferrari.

The first chapter of their rivalry was installed at the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix when treacherous conditions caused eight of the 20 starters to finish. With Senna flying up the grid in his inconvenient Toleman, Prost encouraged the stewards to abandon the race due to the unsafe weather.

Officials decided to mark the event with a red flag when Senna passed Prost on the line with the ignorant Brazilian cheers as he took his first F1 win – but the results were carried over from the previous round to ensure the French secured victory.

It became particularly explosive when the two became teammates in 1988. Towards the end of the Japanese Grand Prix – the penultimate race of the 1989 season – the two came in contact with each other. However, Senna was disqualified for cutting the chicane and Prost secured his third championship.

Senna retaliated the following season by ensuring he won a second world title by colliding with Prost on the first corner of the Suzuka race – a move the Brazilian apparently suggested as a deliberate repayment for the previous year.

After joining Williams, Prost won his fourth championship in 1993, with Senna finishing second overall, the fifth time the pair finished top two. The Frenchman retired after that season and the two became friends before Senna’s tragic death in 1994.