Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen (left) and Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton compete in the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah on Dec 5, 2021. (GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP)

Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be the 30th time in Formula One history that the title has been decided at the last race, with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen level on points.

The only other time two title contenders have been tied at the top going into the final race was in 1974. The following lists some of the most memorable last race deciders:

In this file photo taken on Sept 27, 1966, Australian racing driver Jack Brabham celebrates his victory of the 1966 25e Grand Prix d´Albi, Formule 2 race, at the Circuit d'Albi, France. (PHOTO / AFP)

US 1959

Brabham pushes his car over the line

Jack Brabham became Australia's first world champion in dramatic style, pushing his Cooper across the line at Sebring after running out of fuel. Three drivers were in contention: Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks both needed to win with fastest lap but Moss retired with a broken gearbox and Brooks was third. Brabham was fourth while Bruce McLaren won, the 22-year-old becoming the youngest winner of a championship race  — a record now held by Verstappen who was 18 when he won in 2016.

In this file photo taken on July 4, 2010, Brazilian Formula 1 driver Emerson Fittipaldi drives a 1973 McLaren-Cosworth M23 F1 past the crowd during the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex.  (CARL COURT /AFP)

US 1974

Fittipaidi takes Mclaren's first title

McLaren's Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi and Ferrari's Swiss racer Clay Regazzoni were level on points, with Tyrrell's South African Jody Scheckter seven behind but also still in with a chance providing he won. Scheckter qualified sixth, Fittipaldi eighth, Regazzoni ninth. The Swiss made the better start but Fittipaldi managed to pass him, two wheels on the grass, and finished fourth for his second title and McLaren's first.

In this undated file photo, British Formula One driver James Hunt crosses the finish line of the French Grand Prix in his McLaren M23 at the Circuit Paul Ricard. (PHOTO / AFP)

Japan 1976

Hunt triumphs in the rain

Ferrari's Niki Lauda had come back from a near-fatal crash at the Nuerburgring to lead his flamboyant British rival James Hunt by three points going to the final race at Fuji. In atrocious weather, the Austrian retired after two laps of the race saying it was madness to continue while Hunt finished third for McLaren to take the title by a single point. The dramatic season-long rivalry was made into a 2013 movie, "Rush".

In this file photo taken on May 27, 1993, Britain's Nigel Mansell watches other race cars  during the last day of practice for the 77th Indy 500.  (JEFF ROBERTS / AFP)

Australia 1986

Exploding tire ends Mansell's hopes

The Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide was between Nigel Mansell, leading on 70 points, Alain Prost (64) and Nelson Piquet (63). With only the 11 best results counting, Mansell needed only to finish third to be champion. The Williams driver was heading for the title when his left-rear tire exploded at 270kph, the car bucking and sparking as he fought to control it down the straight on three wheels. Prost was champion.

In this file photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher smiles after posing with the Mercedes team in the pits at the Interlagos speedway in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (YASUYOSHI CHIBA / POOL / AFP)

Australia 1994

Schumacher and Hill collide

Michael Schumacher, then at Benetton, led Damon Hill by a point into the final race of a tragic season overshadowed by the death of Hill's Williams team mate Ayrton Senna. Schumacher led from the start, with Hill second, but hit the wall on lap 36. When Hill tried to go past, Schumacher turned in and they collided. Both retired, with stewards deciding it was a racing incident. The title was the first of the German's seven.

In this file photo taken on June 16, 2007, Canadian driver Jacques Villeneuve steers his Peugeot 908 HDI N.7 by during the 75th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours Race in Le Mans. (ANDRE DURAND / AFP)

Jerez 1997

Schumacher and Villeneuve collide

The European Grand Prix in Jerez saw Schumacher, now at Ferrari, leading Canadian Jacques Villeneuve by a single point. They collided while battling for the lead, with Schumacher out and the Williams driver finishing third to win the title. Schumacher was later disqualified from the championship by the FIA who ruled he deliberately tried to take out his rival.

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton speaks to the press after winning the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah on Dec 5, 2021. (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP / POOL)

Brazil 2008

The last corner of the last lap

Hamilton, then at McLaren, celebrated his first title after a race won by Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who was champion until his British rival passed Toyota's Timo Glock for fifth on the last corner of the last lap at Interlagos to take the crown by a point. Glock subsequently received death threats.

Aston Martin's German driver Sebastian Vettel sits in his car during the first practice session at Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack in Mexico City on Nov 5, 2021 ahead of the Formula One Mexico Grand Prix. (PEDRO PARDO / AFP)

Abu Dhabi 2010

Vettel's first title

A record four drivers remained in with a chance at the last race, with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel only third favourite and 15 points behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Red Bull's Australian Mark Webber was second in the standings and Hamilton fourth, but Vettel started on pole and won to become the youngest ever world champion at 23.