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

The Formula 1 world has been doused in controversy ahead of the final race in the 2024 season thanks to two of its biggest 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 first of its kind F1 fans have been able to witness in at least three years, with Verstappen’s utter dominance quelling any real reason for bickering as the rest of the field battled it out for the silver medal.

Now though, with Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari all hot on the Dutchman’s heels, and with Red Bull set to lose the constructors title for the first time since 2021, tension has returned in spades to the F1 paddock. With this in mind, there is no better time to take a trip down memory lane in order to revisit some of the sport’s most high-profile spats.

Michael Schumacher vs Damon Hill, 1994-1996

The 1994 F1 season saw 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 sport: Benetton’s Michael Schumacher. The young German was dominant through the first seven races of the season, winning all but one, before his title campaign was derailed in his disqualification from both the British and Belgian Grand Prix’s — with the former also resulting in a further two race ban.

Hill made the most of this opportunity, winning the four races Schumacher missed, cutting his rival’s lead to just one point heading into the season finale in Australia. Once in Adelaide, and midway through the race, Schumacher seemingly turned into Hill as the Briton challenged him on the inside of a corner, sending the Benneton flying into the barrier and ending his race. And while Hill managed to hobble back to the pits, damage to his car forced him to retire, landing Schumacher the crown.

Schumacher would win his second title the following season, before Hill got the better of him in 1996 during the German’s first year with Ferrari.

“Michael and I actually got on well, but on the track we hated each other,” Hill revealed when speaking with Bild. 

“It was and is not possible to be any other way if you want to become Formula 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 back and forth throughout the season, winning all but three races in total and finishing over 150 points ahead of third-placed Valtteri Bottas in the driver standings.

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

Photo by: Sutton Images

Tempers boiled over with three particularly notable on-track incidents that year, kicking off with a lap one collision between the two at the British Grand Prix, sending Verstappen into the barrier and eventually to hospital. Despite a 10-second penalty, Hamilton would go on to win the race, celebrating fervently in front of his home fans — something that did not go down well with Verstappen.

Later that season, the two would collide yet again at the Italian Grand Prix. On what turned out to be a momentous race for a resurgent McLaren team, Hamilton and Verstappen jostled for sixth position mid-way through, colliding on the first chicane as the Red Bull mounted the Mercedes’ nose. The incident forced both to retire and handed Daniel Ricciardo his first win since 2018. 

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, looks on Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12 after colliding

Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images

Their title fight came down to the wire, with the trophy still up for grabs at the final race in Abu Dhabi. The race will forever be remembered for one of the most controversial on-track decisions in recent memory thanks to then race director Michael Masi. His decision to allow the lapped cars between Hamilton in first and Verstappen in second to return to the lead lap before the race went green with just one lap remaining all but handed the Dutchman the title on a silver platter as he took full advantage of his fresh tires. Ultimately, it also cost Masi his job and forced the FIA to move into damage control mode to save further losing face.

Lewis Hamilton vs Nico Rosberg, 2016

One of the most intense intra-team battles in recent memory, the 2016 season marked Rosberg’s first title campaign, and ultimately his last in F1. Having dominated the first four rounds of the season, Rosberg’s hot run came to an abrupt end in Spain. Trailing Rosberg early, Hamilton found himself on the grass on lap one as they vied for the top spot, causing the Briton to lose control and spin, taking his teammate out in the process.

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

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Later, at the Austrian Grand Prix, and with Rosberg leading Hamilton on the final lap, the teammates collided yet again, taking out the German’s wing as the Briton romped home to win. Meanwhile, Rosberg, whose wing was now lodged under his Mercedes, could only manage a fourth-placed finish.

The championship lead undulated back and forth between the two until Rosberg sealed the deal in Abu Dhabi. At the end of the day, this battle not only raised blood pressures throughout the Mercedes garage, but it ultimately brought to an end a long friendship between the two protagonists.

Nelson Piquet vs Nigel Mansell, 1986-1987

Nigel Mansell once said of his former Williams teammate, via Motorsport Magazine, “He’s got all the ingredients to be a great person, it’s just that he chooses not to be.” By comparison, Piquet previously labeled Mansell “a fast idiot.” If these comments don’t sum up their relationship perfectly, nothing will.

The pair’s rivalry came to heads during their two-year stint as co-pilots of the immensely successful Honda-powered Williams between 1986 and 1987. The pairing of two No.1 caliber drivers resulted in them getting in one another’s way, dividing nine wins of the 16-race calendar between them in 1986. The season came down to the final race in Adelaide where Mansell, Piquet, and Prost were all within touching distance of the crown. Unfortunately for Williams, a burst tire on the Briton’s car followed by a trip to the pits for Piquet to avoid the same dire outcome, allowed Prost to claim the win and the title.

Nelson Piquet, Williams FW11, Nigel Mansell, Williams FW11

Photo by: Sutton Images

In 1987, Mansell again led the pack in terms of wins, but a string of second-place finishes for Piquet and Mansell missing Japan due to an injury, sealed the deal for the Brazilian who won his third drivers’ title.

The two went their separate ways the following season, and it was clear that there was no love lost between them. In a remarkable interview with Playboy, Piquet labeled Mansell “argumentative and “rude,” adding that he felt he had “a really ugly wife.”

“He’s arrogant, and after he started winning races he started treating everyone really badly. Besides which, he’s written off piles of cars. No one wanted him to win.”

Alain Prost vs Ayrton Senna, 1988-1993

Easily the most high-profile spat in the sport’s history, this battle dominated much of the late 1980s and early 1990s as both masters of the craft vied for titles. Things turned particularly sour between Prost and Senna at the 1989 San Marino Grand Prix, during their second and final season as teammates at McLaren. 

Having agreed that whoever reached the first turn in the lead would not be challenged by the other, Senna led the way early on. A red flag waved, and when the race restarted, Prost was in the lead. The Brazilian, believing that he maintained the right to lead the race after the initial start, reclaimed the lead shortly after.

Alain Prost, McLaren, Ayrton Senna, McLaren

Photo by: Sutton Images

Later that season, their rivalry reached boiling point at the Japanese Grand Prix with both looking to claim the title. During the race, Senna attempted to overtake Prost for the lead, only for the duo to collide. Prost was forced to retire while Senna battled back to claim the win, only to then be disqualified for illegally rejoining the track following the crash. As a result, Prost was crowned the world champion for a third time. 

A year later, and back in Japan, the title was again decided by a crash involving Senna and Prost — this time on the very first corner as the Brazilian dived to retake the lead from the now Ferrari driver.