How Formula 1 has ended a massive 47-year drought

We all predicted that this year’s Formula 1 world championship battle would be hotly contested, but who saw things looking like this?

The 2021 Formula 1 world championship battle is set to come down to the wire this Sunday, December 12 in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.

Not since the 21-race 2016 season has the championship battle been decided in the final race, when it was also decided in this particular race at this particular venue.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is set to enter this race around the 16-turn, 3.281-mile (5.280-kilometer) road course on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on a three-race win streak.

Having won three races in a row, Hamilton has drawn even with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on points.

Through 21 races on the 22-race 2021 schedule, both drivers have scored exactly 369.5 points.

This means that for the first time since 1974, the two title protagonists are set to enter the season finale tied atop the driver standings.

And there’s no doubt that, given what the scoring system is now compared to what it was 47 years ago, the fact that this year’s battle is tied is even more impressive.

In 1974, when there were just 15 races on the schedule, points were awarded as follows to the top six finishers in each race: 9-6-4-3-2-1.

Additionally, only the seven best results from the first eight races of the season and the best six results from the final seven races of the season were counted toward the championship battle. So only 13 of 15 results mattered.

Entering the 15th and final race on the 1974 schedule, Emerson Fittipaldi and Clay Regazzoni sat tied atop the standings with 52 points.

The season concluded with the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International, and Fittipaldi took the title by scoring three points with a fourth place finish. Regazzoni finished in 11th.

Yas Marina Circuit is scheduled to host the 2021 Formula 1 season finale this Sunday, December 12. ESPN2 is set to broadcast live the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live beginning at 7:55 a.m. ET. Start your free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss any of the action!