F1: 5 Best Overtakes of all time.

F1 Grand Prix of Istanbul - Race
F1 Grand Prix of Istanbul - Race

Henry Ford once said, "Motor racing started after the second car was built".

Overtaking is the most thrilling & exciting moment for both drivers and fans in any form of Motorsport. It doesn't matter whether you're seated at the Eau Rouge Gold grandstand at Spa or the Harbourfront grandstand at Monaco or simply in front of your television set watching the Grand Prix when your favorite driver is about to make a pass on the driver in the front sure makes your heart skip a beat. Overtakes bring out the emotions in an F1 fan, those claps, the laughter and some even cry in joy or despair.

Formula One is about all those moments, the highspeed overtakes, staying in the slipstream and making that millimeter perfect overtake stick and sometimes things do go wrong and drivers end up crashing into each other.

Overtaking has been the biggest concern with the newer generation hybrid cars. The cars claimed to be fastest so far in F1 have failed to deliver in terms of overtaking. Most Grand Prix were won and lost in pit stops and safety car periods this season so far.

According to a report the number of overtakes in 2017 was reduced by less than 50 percent when compared to the 2016 season and this year doesn't look promising to improve on those numbers.

It's not just the fans but even some of the F1 drivers are complaining about the races being too boring.

Let's have a look at the top overtaking manoeuvres in Formula One and relive the moments from the past.

#5 Nelson Piquet takes on Ayrton Senna- Hungarian GP 1986

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The complete Hungarian GP could have been summed up as 'two-man show' between the Brazilians. Senna began very well while Piquet was struggling to catch up with the former, as he manoeuvred every turn. Piquet dogged Senna and managed to take a lead in first 20 laps which was regained by Senna but with Senna's car Stumbling of the 3/4th race over, Piquet grabbed the chance and won the race 8 seconds ahead of Senna, setting the fastest lap. It was an enthralling affair to witness between the two.

#4 Ayrton Senna vs Prost, Schumacher, Wendlinger & Hill - European GP1993

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The Donington Park F1 European Grand Prix 1993 was one of the greatest races to witness as Senna took over four drivers on the opening lap and created new records in F1 en route to victory. The first lap is also considered to be the greatest ever lap in F1 by many. Weather further added the streak of adventure to the whole race. Senna pushed hard at the start but ultimately got blocked by Schumacher. Starting from P4 and now dropping to P5 behind German, Senna drove his way like a champion and took on Karl Wendlinger. Deceiving the weather and dangerous conditions, he went after Damon Hill and ultimately Alain Prost before completing the first lap and managed to hold the position till the chequered flag came out. He also set the fastest lap of the race while he took the pitlane instead of the main straight to complete the lap.

#3 Mika Hakkinen takes on Schumacher- Belgian GP 2000

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By 2000, both Schumacher and Hakkinen were double World Champions. The Belgian Grand Prix at the legendary circuit Spa-Francorchamps started under the safety car due to the rain. Hakkinen was leading till lap 13 and spun out while the track was drying handing over the lead to Schumacher. Schumacher started struggling with tyre degradation on lap 34 and driving off the line to cool his tyres. This gave an opportunity for Hakkinen to close on the Ferrari man. With just 4 laps to go Hakkinen pushed his car to maximum and got onto the slipstream of Schumacher at the Kemmel Straight. He managed to pull off a double slipstream overtake on Schumacher and Ricardo Zonta before the Les Combes and eventually and went on to win the race.

#2 Vettel and Ricciardo touch wheels- Chinese GP 2017

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Four-time World Champion Vettel showed every inch of perfection while taking on Ricciardo at Chinese GP in 2017. Unable to make way through the corners, Vettel slotted in behind his former Red Bull Racing team-mate to slipstream on the run down to six. Having passed Raikkonen, Vettel went ahead attempting a overtake on Ricciardo but they drove neck to neck before there was a little wheel bang and Vettel finally pushed his car ahead at turn 7 which was a truly skillful act.

#1 Ricciardo's Three in one- Azerbaijan GP 2017

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Ricciardo's Lucky victory at Azerbaijan GP 2017 and we can say that all credit goes to his stunning 'Triple Pass'. On the safety car restart following Red flag, he trailed the two Williams and then Hulkenberg as he got a tow down the long straight. The saying luck favors the brave came true as the Australian managed to pull off a brave overtake on Massa, Stroll, and Hulkenberg, diving down at turn one to take the 3rd place and ultimately emerged as the winner of the race.

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Edited by Shahid Salman
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