Team principal names F1's 'MOST EXCITING' race ever

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has revealed what he believes is the most exciting race ever.

The incident-filled European Grand Prix in 2012 is the one that he selected, in a season that was one of the closest the sport has ever seen.

READ MORE: F1 Team Principals: Who are the men in charge in 2023?

"My favourite race is Valencia 2012," he told Mclaren's YouTube channel.

"Somebody thinks it’s the most exciting dry race ever in Formula 1. A suggestion to go and take a look."

The race

Just for context, this was a season in which Red Bull were very quick and their lead driver (Sebastian Vettel) was chasing down his third consecutive world championship. Sound familiar?

Well, they certainly weren't as dominant as Max Verstappen has been in 2023, but nonetheless, Vettel raced out of the blocks and had a 20 second advantage after 26 laps.

That all changed, however, when a hefty crash between Jean-Eric Vergne and Heiki Kovalinen brought out the safety car. This bunched the pack together and, when Sebastian Vettel had to retire having lost drive in his Red Bull, Fernando Alonso led the race.

When second-placed Romain Grosjean also had to retire for a similar alternator issue which had done for Vettel, it looking as though the podium positions had sorted themselves, with Raikkonen overtaking Lewis Hamilton for second place and Lewis holding off Pastor Maldonado for third.

But, the race took another twist, Maldonado and Hamilton coming together and knocking each other out of the race, leaving Michael Schumacher to come through and take his first podium since coming out of retirement and, as it happens, the final podium of his career.

Alonso became the first driver to win two races in what was a phenomenal season, and he took over the championship lead. It was of course Vettel who went on to claim the championship that year by just three points.

READ MORE: Jenson Button: Former F1 world champion, Sky F1 pundit and NASCAR rookie

Related

McLaren

McLaren reveal contingency plan over tense Norris and Piastri incident

• August 11, 2025 21:57

McLaren

McLaren F1 rivalry given new light as stars race to championship title

• August 8, 2025 12:48