From lost championships to wheels falling off just meters from the finish line, Formula 1 has always been a theatre of high-speed drama.

This is a sport where mechanical dependability, split-second judgements, even the weather can quickly turn the script around. Although most of the drama in a race starts in the early phases, the last lap usually provides the most memorable events.

Every Grand Prix has the possibility of turning into anarchy, but only a few have really rocked spectators to their very core in the last seconds. Crashes, surprise overtakes, sudden failures. Everything in these rare races was exactly as it should have been right up to the chequered banner.

Six of the most dramatic ends in Formula 1 history have come from events where fortunes were won or lost in the blink of an eye, much like the unpredictable twists found in the world of online casinos, such as Richard Casino. Just as in Formula 1, where the outcome can change in the final moments, the world of casino games often holds surprises until the last spin or hand. In both cases, the result can shift unexpectedly, keeping spectators and players on the edge of their seats.

German Grand Prix (2019)

Europe was covered in a severe heatwave at the end of July 2019, with one temperature record falling after another. The Formula 1 Grand Prix location for that weekend, Hockenheim, was no exception; the thermometer rose above 40°C, therefore posing severe circumstances for drivers, teams, and spectators equally. But the temperature changed dramatically just as the race was ready to start. The circuit was flooded suddenly and heavily, casting doubt on whether the Grand Prix could even proceed.

The rain stopped, the track dried enough to start, and what transpired was among the most wild and erratic races of recent memory. Conditions changed all during the event, which made teams reconsider tyre policies and adjust to the often altering grip levels. Many drivers fell victim to collisions, spins, and expensive pit lane mistakes on the damp surface.

Sebastian Vettel made an amazing recovery drive while anarchy ruled the front. Starting dead last in the 20th, he moved patiently and precisely across the pitch. He was fighting for the podium in the last laps and finally passed Daniil Kvyat to get second place.

Lewis Hamilton, who had begun from pole position, had one of his worst runs of the season at the other end of the drama. He fell down the order following a calculated error with tyre choice and a collision with the barriers, finally finishing ninth.

Max Verstappen was the one with calm under duress. Mastering the slick and slippery surface, the Red Bull driver avoided the traps catching so many others. His perfect performance in those challenging circumstances won him a well-earned victory in what turned out to be one of the most spectacular wet-weather races of the contemporary age.

Brazilian Grand Prix (2008)

Brazilian Felipe Massa felt what seemed like a dream come true in one of the most sad events in Formula 1 history: only for it to be mercilessly snatched away in the last seconds of the 2008 season. The last race of the year, São Paulo had a charged environment. With the odds squarely in Massa's favour, he was almost sure he would grab his first World Championship. Lewis Hamilton, his principal opponent, was having trouble. The race was nearing its end, and Hamilton was outside the top 5, which meant Massa would become the new World Champion.

Believing they would be about to see their local hero crowned, the Ferrari squad burst in joy in that instant, and the thousands of Brazilian supporters crammed into the stands cheered loudly. Massa began to embrace the occasion absorbed in the enthusiasm. He was already getting congratulations notes, and the Ferrari garage was clearly vibrating.

But then, in a startling turn of events, the last lap played out most dramatically. Desperate for points, Hamilton passed one of his competitors and grabbed fifth place - the mark he need to guarantee the championship. Massa's title chances vanished in a few short seconds.

The jubilation around him turned to stunned silence. Previously celebrating their hero's success, the Brazilian supporters now sat in shock. From great cheers to a terrible silence, the mood changed. His face a picture of amazement, Felipe Massa watched as Hamilton crossed the line to take the title by one point.

Massa was left to process the heartache of losing the championship in such a dramatic way. Once all around him, the applause was replaced with a terrible silence. Massa never again came close to vying for the championship even if he is still in F1 for another six years. That terrible race in Brazil, where he had come so close to the ultimate prize, would represent the final victory of his career - an incredible moment of triumph clouded by the merciless hand of fate.

US Grand Prix (2017)

Not during the race, but in the aftermath, the most dramatic event of this Grand Prix took place and became among the most unforgettable scandals in modern Formula 1 history. Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, has pulled together one of the most spectacular comebacks of his career. Starting from 16th on the grid, the Dutchman had worked his way across the field with perfect speed, wildfulness and planning. By the closing laps of the race, he had pushed his way up to third place, overtaking some of the sport's top drivers, including the seasoned Kimi Raikkonen, to secure what seemed to be a well-deserved spot on the podium.

Verstappen was displaying skill and composure on the track, and as he crossed the line he was already planning the festivities ahead. He had done everything right. The winner's room was vibrating with expectation as Verstappen prepared to ascend to the podium for the usual trophy presentation. His feelings were running strong, and the environment was one of triumph - a well-earned prize for a driver who had proved his mettle on the track.

Then, though, the unanticipated occurred right as he was preparing to celebrate. With a frustrated expression, Kimi Räikkönen arrived in the room surrounded by FIA officials. The celebration stopped right away. Still sporting racing gear, Verstappen was told he had been given a 5-second penalty for leaving the track while passing Räikkönen. Handed out following the race, the penalty meant that Verstappen's third-place finish might be compromised.

The news really knocked Verstappen down. He was informed his efforts will be punished for a small error during the race after driving so wonderfully to occupy so many positions. The penalty lowered him to fourth place, therefore depriving him of the podium spot he had earned by great effort. The atmosphere in the room shifted right away from celebration to incredulity. Still reeling from the choice, Verstappen was left to accept the hard fact that a penalty had undone a great comeback, therefore relegating him just outside the top three.

The discussion on consistency and fairness in the sport gained further momentum from the brutal finale to what had been an amazing drive and the disagreement over the penalty. This one of the most dramatic events in recent F1 history, Verstappen's response and the following consequences serve as a reminder of how rapidly fortunes may alter in the realm of motorsport.

Canadian Grand Prix (2011)

Another rainy Grand Prix: 5 safety car visits (a record number), a two-hour race stop, several accidents and one big comeback. Jenson Button was the main character - the Briton started seventh, dropped to the last places at the start of the race, but gradually improved his result.

With 5 laps to go, Button managed to pass Michael Schumacher and take second place, and on the last lap he forced Sebastian Vettel to make a braking mistake, which allowed him to beat the German and triumphantly win.

Jenson was not deterred by six pit stops or two collisions in the race - he gained more than 20 places in one Grand Prix and managed to score one of the most dramatic victories.

Italian Grand Prix (1971)

It is very rare for the winner of a Formula 1 race to be determined at the finish line of the last lap. But there are cases when all three future participants of the award ceremony remain unknown until the last corner. This happened in 1971 in Italy, when the difference between first and fourth place was 18 hundredths of a second. The leader changed 24 times during the 55 laps of the race.

The sensational victory in the Grand Prix was won by the British driver Peter Gethin, who had only one victory in his career. He was only 0.01 seconds ahead of Swede Ronnie Peterson, the smallest difference between first and second place in the history of Formula 1.

European Grand Prix (2005)

Being first throughout the race and not being able to finish on the last lap? It happens in Formula 1. In 2005, Kimi Raikonnen held the lead throughout the European Grand Prix: the Finn took the lead on the first lap and led the entire race. At first, Raikonnen withstood the attacks of Nick Heidfeld, and at the finish he was attacked by Fernando Alonso.

Kimi entered the last lap with a 1.5-second advantage over Fernando, which should have been enough. But a few corners before the finish line, Raikonnen's tyre went flat: his car spun and went off the track. Kimi was unable to finish, and Alonso, who had not led a single lap, became the winner. 'What does it feel like to win a race when you didn't lead for at least one lap? It feels great!' Fernando joked at the press conference. It is unlikely that Raikonnen can agree with him.