George Russell’s lights-to-flag win at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix over Max Verstappen by just 0.196 seconds made it the 11th-closest finish in Formula 1 history. This article highlights the top 10 closest finishes, beginning with the controversial 2002 Austrian GP where Michael Schumacher took victory from teammate Rubens Barrichello by 0.182s after team orders were enforced. The 2023 Australian GP saw Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton by 0.179s under safety car conditions after multiple red flags.

In the 2000 Canadian GP, Schumacher again led Barrichello home by 0.174s under team instruction during a rain-affected race. The list continues with Giancarlo Baghetti’s remarkable debut win at the 1961 French GP over Dan Gurney by exactly 0.100s, making him only the third driver to win on his F1 debut. The same 0.100s margin occurred in the 1954 French GP, where Juan Manuel Fangio edged out Karl Kling.

These finishes showcase some of the most dramatic and tightly contested moments in F1 history, often influenced by team orders, safety cars, or extraordinary drives from lower grid positions.