This weekend Kimi Antonelli could wrap up the 2026 title in Mexico City. Sixty-two years ago, the same circuit staged one of the closest title deciders in Formula 1 history, and the lead changed hands on the final laps.
Three drivers, one race
The 1964 Mexican Grand Prix was the 10th and final round of the season. It was held on 25 October at the Magdalena Mixhuca circuit, today's Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Three British drivers could still be champion. Graham Hill led for BRM on 39 points, John Surtees had 34 for Ferrari and Jim Clark had 30 for Lotus.
Hill only needed to finish second, or third if Surtees did not finish ahead of him. Surtees needed to win, or finish second with Hill no higher than third. Clark had to win and hope the other two struggled.
Surtees's Ferrari was not even red that day. It was entered by the North American Racing Team and painted white and blue, the racing colours of the United States.
Clark in control, Hill in trouble
Clark started from pole position with a lap of 1:57.24, with Dan Gurney's Brabham alongside him.
Clark led from the start. Behind him, Hill was fighting Lorenzo Bandini, Surtees's team-mate, for third place when Bandini hit the back of the BRM.
Hill spun into the barrier and damaged his exhaust. His car lost power, and he slipped out of the points.
That put Clark in line for the title, as long as he stayed in front.
Heartbreak on the penultimate lap
With the finish in sight, an oil line failed on Clark's Lotus. His engine seized as he started the last lap, and he was out.
Gurney swept through to win. Bandini was now second and Surtees third, which was not quite enough.
Ferrari's team manager signalled to Bandini to slow down, and Bandini let Surtees past for second place.
Champion by one point
Surtees finished 1 minute 8.94 seconds behind Gurney, and those six points made him world champion. He ended the season on 40 points to Hill's 39.
Hill had actually scored 41, but only a driver's best six results counted. Clark finished third in the standings on 32.
Surtees had already won seven motorcycle world titles in the 350cc and 500cc classes. He remains the only driver to be world champion on both two wheels and four.
Race it on Late Brake
Mexico City isn't in Late Brake, but Monza is, and Surtees won the Italian Grand Prix there on his way to the 1964 title. Take on the circuit in the free browser game, race your own ghost and chase the gold medal time of 1:26.5.
Sources: 1964 Mexican Grand Prix, John Surtees (Wikipedia)