F1: Top 5 closest world championship title battles of the decade.

There have been seasons where the triumph fo the man at the front of the grid has been rather dominant and utterly one-sided. We've seen what Hamilton has done in 2014, 2015, and 2017 seasons, winning the latter in an iron-fisted manner.

But there have also been several seasons that have hung on the knife's edge, only to be claimed by driver's who've kept their cool in defining moments.

Which are the top 5 championship seasons that have been won not necessarily by the best man on the grid but under thrilling circumstances and by the slightest of margins?

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#5 Rosberg shows Hamilton how to win, clinching the title by 5 points

Throughout 2016, one felt, Nico was a bit unsung

To this day, for some reason, a lot less is reserved for celebrating Nico Rosberg in the top annals of the sport given the fact that he was just phenomenal in 2016, a year where Lewis Hamilton- Rosberg's former friend and later, arch-rival- tried all he could to derail the German from the path of being a world champion.

But in 2016, the best year for him, Rosberg managed to go wheel-to-wheel with the four-time world champion and combatted Lewis' immense race pace with grit and temerity.

Two seasons back, Monaco based, multi-lingual former world champion produced his epic drive that produced 8 pole positions and 9 race wins in a year where he was on the money from the word go.

Never before had Lewis observed such firm competition at the front of the grid before Rosberg announced his plans in 2016 by winning big at Australia, going further to garner an impressive stack of wins at Bahrain, China, and Russia.

In the finale event that year, at Abu Dhabi, while Rosberg managed second, behind race-winner Hamilton, who also set the pole, there was Vettel catching up fast to counter the other Mercedes that had to face the relentless might of Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the other end.

#4 2010- Forza Vettel as Alonso becomes a sentimental

favourite in losing by 4 points

F1 produced a supreme competition in the 2010 season

Back in 2010, a few months after Ferrari had ousted Kimi Raikkonen from the team, in came former double-world champion Fernando Alonso to rule the hearts of the Tifosi and dominate the proceedings from the very top; well, almost.

While the 2010 season was won by an indomitable Sebastian Vettel, who was on a roll in a vastly superior machinery- the RB 10- Ferrari were lifted by some sensational drives by the likes of Fernando Alonso, who drove his heart out and almost caught Vettel's dominant run at the front of the grid.

While Sebastian that year made the most of the Grands Prix, winning contests in 5 races, Alonso matched Sebastian's pace and grit by winning as many.

Overall, even as Vettel clinched the first of his four world titles- indicating the start of a juggernaut that only Alonso was able to manage on the grid- the Spaniard made it a tough fight for the German, by winning the season-opener at Bahrain, and then securing back-to-back wins at Singapore and Italy.

But even then, Alonso's grit would result into 252 points, finishing 4 adrift from Vettel.

#3 2012- Heart-break for "Ferrarinator" Alonso as Bullish Vettel reigns by 3 points

Fernando Alonso was the Dark Knight of 2012 season

Perhaps no other Formula 1 driver is as polarising and intimidating as Fernando Alonso. While on the one hand, he's chided for often seeming a petulant child, constantly complaining of the radio and doubted for his misjudgment concerning the decision to remain at McLaren (despite a poor 2015 season thanks to a dismal car), on the other hand, Alonso is celebrated as one of the greats of the grid, decorated as a champion marksman.

And if there were a year that proved just why "El Nino" is so widely regarded then it was the 2012 season where he all but prevailed in an imposing Ferrari, finishing 3 points behind championship-winner Vettel.

While the 2010 season marked the start of what eventually arose as one of the sport's great modern rivalries- the ferocity of Vettel in a Red Bull on the one hand pitted against the consistency of Fernando on the other- the 2012 season brought out something great from the two giants.

Throughout the season, Vettel maintained his superiority registering 5 race-wins, dominating the Asian circuits where his consistent triumphs at Singapore, Japan, India, and Korea proved he was just impossible to defeat, Alonso won handsomely at Malaysia, Europe, and Germany.

Vettel also asserted his strength at the front of the grid by setting 6 fastest laps that season and winning the season by gathering 281 points, 3 ahead of Alonso's 278. In the end, Alonso was dauntless, as proven by the spectacle of gathering 13 podiums that year including 5 consistent finishes on the podium in the final 5 races at Korea, India, Abu Dhabi, USA, and Brazil.

#4 2007- The legend of the Iceman is born: Kimi wins by 1 point

To this day, no other Ferrari driver has won a title in the debut year with the Maranello-based team

Kimi Raikkonen won the 2007 season and thus, his first and only racing title that year in his maiden season at the Prancing Horse.

In so doing, Raikkonen, finished 1 point ahead of McLaren-duo Hamilton and Alonso, thus forming a rare trinity of racing greats who, back then, seemed at the peak of their powers.

Raikkonen was quick and dauntless throughout the year and was found charging in each of his 6 race wins, an enormous tally considering a better part of his 20 wins in the sport came in his maiden year at the Prancing Horse.

Some of Raikkonen's ice-cool manoeuvres were seen in China and Brazil, the latter being the scene of the Iceman's moment of glory.

But on the other hand, purely from a critical appraisal of his season, another young driver, then only in his maiden season in the sport, indicated the prowess he'd later make a habit, by winning 4 Grands Prix battles, including a back-to-back run at USA and Canada, now Lewis Hamilton's fortresses of sorts.

The competition soon would be a three-way fight to the ultimate glory as Alonso won 4 races, his efforts at Monaco, Malaysia, Europe and Italy being imposing pieces of evidence to Raikkonen, who could see just what he was up against. But eventually, as Kimi drove a faster race and clinched the win at Interlagos ahead of Hamilton, he'd steal the crown by a tiny margin of 1 point. This is also one of the most memorable moments of Raikkonen with Ferrari.

#1 2008 season- Hamilton clinches a cliffhanger ahead of Massa by 1 point

Lewis Hamilton celebrates his maiden World Championship title

The 2008 F1 season proved just why the sport remains one marked with trials and tribulations; heartbreaks and sensational moments, and often, all rolled into one grand moment: the fitting finale.

If there was a Formula 1 season that perhaps spelled the biggest heartbreak of the last decade or so, then it was the 2008 season where there was despair for Massa but glory for a young driver, who currently stands on the verge of winning his fifth driver's title, ten years from the Brazilian Grand Prix of 2008- Lewis Hamilton.

The season decorated by Felipe Massa's 6 race wins when compared to Lewis Hamilton's 5, saw dramatic scenes at the 2008 Interlagos Grand Prix; Massa's home race where despite winning the finale event- standing on top of the podium amid stunned fans- Massa had tears of agony and despair whilst Lewis went, "I can't believe it, champion of the world!" in garnering a fighting fifth.

Lewis' fighting recovery having lost a few places initially was marked by a phenomenal run to the middle-pack of the grid, having trailed behind the race leader. All it took for the Briton was to mount his car inside the top-five and that is what he did. In the end, in placing his recovering McLaren Mercedes, then at par with the sensational Ferrari of Felipe Massa, the former snatched the Brazilian's chances of gaining what could've been a sure-shot title triumph. In the end, Massa's difference to Lewis was by a painfully dainty margin of 1 point.