10 most shocking F1 Championship wins in history,

10. Nico Rosberg – 2016

After years in Lewis Hamilton’s shadow, Rosberg finally turned the tables. He outdueled his teammate in a tense, psychological battle — then shocked the world by retiring just days after winning the title.

9. Jenson Button – 2009

Nobody expected Brawn GP — a last-minute team using Honda’s leftovers — to dominate. Button won six of the first seven races and cruised to his only championship. It was the ultimate underdog fairytale.

8. Kimi Räikkönen – 2007

Heading into the final race, Kimi trailed both McLaren drivers, Hamilton and Alonso. Yet a stunning win in Brazil — combined with McLaren’s meltdown — gave him the title by just one point. Classic Iceman.

7. Sebastian Vettel – 2010

Vettel didn’t lead the championship all year… until the final race. With Alonso stuck behind Petrov in Abu Dhabi, Vettel’s victory handed him his first title and made him the youngest world champion ever.

6. Lewis Hamilton – 2008

One of the most dramatic finishes in F1 history. Hamilton needed fifth place in Brazil, lost it on the final lap… and then regained it at the final corner when Timo Glock slid wide. He won the title by one point.

5. Niki Lauda – 1984

After nearly dying in a 1976 crash, Lauda returned and won his third title eight years later — by just half a point over his teammate Alain Prost. The smallest margin in F1 history.

4. James Hunt – 1976

Lauda’s horrific Nürburgring crash changed everything. Hunt clawed back the deficit and, despite chaos and controversy in Japan’s rain-soaked finale, edged Lauda by one point. A Hollywood script come to life.

3. Nelson Piquet – 1983

Driving a Brabham-BMW, Piquet defeated the mighty turbo Ferraris and Renaults to become F1’s first turbo-era champion. His tactical brilliance and reliability beat faster cars in a massive upset.

2. Max Verstappen – 2021

A title fight for the ages — Verstappen vs. Hamilton. It all came down to one lap in Abu Dhabi after a controversial late safety car call. Verstappen made the move, won the race, and claimed his first championship in stunning fashion.

1. Keke Rosberg – 1982

The most shocking champion ever. Rosberg won the world title with just one race win in a season where 11 different drivers won and two champions were lost to tragedy. Amid chaos, Keke’s consistency crowned him king of unpredictability.