Was the 2024 Belgian GP one of Formula 1’s closest races?

5. Monaco GP 2012

1. Mark Webber, Red Bull
2. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes (+0.643s)
3. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari (+0.947s)

The 2012 Monaco Grand Prix is mostly remembered for Michael Schumacher’s fastest time in qualifying, which to this day would still make him the oldest polesitter since 1970, hadn’t the 43-year-old served a five-place grid penalty for colliding with Bruno Senna in the previous round.

As a consequence, Red Bull’s Mark Webber started on pole position ahead of Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, while championship leader Fernando Alonso was fifth and title contender Sebastian Vettel down in ninth.

The safety car neutralised the race early on following multiple first-lap contacts ending the races of three drivers including Romain Grosjean, who had started fourth. Webber still led from Rosberg and Hamilton, with Alonso now up to fourth and Vettel sixth.

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing RB8, leads Nico Rosberg, Mercedes F1 W03, Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-27, and Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F2012, as Romain Grosjean, Lotus E20 and Michael Schumacher, Mercedes F1 W03, make contact

Photo by: Andrew Hone / Motorsport Images

On lap 26, Webber held a 1.8s gap on Rosberg, with Hamilton, Alonso and Felipe Massa respectively 6.6s, 7.4s and 9.5s away from the lead.

All of them made their only pitstop in the next five laps, with Vettel electing to stay on track to enjoy the clear track and free air while hoping for a rain shower to make his gamble jackpot-worthy. The reigning double world champion eventually changed tyres on lap 46 and rejoined in fourth, now just only 3.5s off first place, behind leader Webber, Rosberg and Alonso; completed by Hamilton and Massa, the top 6 was covered by 5.3s.

Some scarce drops of rain did materialise at last, around ten laps before the end of the race, but only Jean-Eric Vergne gambled on intermediates, which cost him a likely seventh-place finish.

Meanwhile, the fight for victory and podium became closer than it ever was, but the order didn’t change and Webber took the win from Rosberg and Alonso. Vettel’s fourth meant the top four was covered by 1.343s.

4. Abu Dhabi GP 2016

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes (+0.439s)
3. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari (+0.843s)

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, crosses the line and takes the chequered flag to win the race from Nico Rosberg, Mercedes F1…