F1 Most exiting race ever

Actually it was last year - Hamilton did crash into Button - took himself out and Button went to the pits then came out dead last

Then drove through the entire field to win in one of the best F1 races I have ever seen and definitely Buttons best ever race.

Yesterdays was a good race but not in the same league

 

It was good but not the best ever

Last years was better for a start and if you go back a few years Barcelona with Mansell and Senna duelling takes some beating - though I do remember a race in the 70's which might have been even better

[SIZE=+1]1971 Italian Grand Prix, Monza[/SIZE] Winner: Peter Gethin Second place: Ronnie Peterson Third place: Francois Cevert
Pole Position: Chris Amon Fastest Lap: Henri Pescarolo

​

On September 5th, 1971, 23 Formula One cars assembled for the 42nd Italian Grand Prix. Monza was famous for slipstreaming during races and this Grand Prix would go down in history as "The Slipstreamer at Monza."
On pole position was the Matra-Simca of Chris Amon, beside him the Ferrari of Jacky Ickx. On row two were the BRMs of Jo Siffert and Howden Ganley, on row three the Tyrrell of Francois Cevert and the March 711 of Ronnie Peterson.
The world championship leader, Jackie Stewart, and the Ferrari of Clay Regazzoni were relegated to the fourth row. Various components had been stripped off cars to reduce drag. Peterson's March had no front wing while Henri Pescarolo's March had a front wing but no radiator covers.
When the flag dropped the pack sped down to the Curve Grande led by Regazzoni, with Peterson, Cevert, Ickx and Stewart in hot pursuit. By lap 4, Peterson led and John Surtees was the first retirement. By lap 6 three more drivers were out. Lap times dropped as the fuel load lightened. On lap 9, Frenchman Henri Pescarolo, set fastest lap of 254.0 kmph (154.4 mph) with his March. By lap 16 both Stewart and Ickx had retired due to engine failure. In two more laps the engine of Clay Regazzoni's Ferrari had expired. Now only the underdogs were left to battle the lead. None of the leading group had won a Grand Prix.
On lap 41, Pescarolo's rear suspension failed. With seven laps to go Amon's Matra Simca led the pack. Amon looked set to win his first Grand Prix when disaster struck - while ripping a tear-off strip from his visor, the whole visor came off in his hand! The luckless New Zealander would finish sixth with no eye protection. The lead battle was now between Peterson and Cevert with Ganley, Mike Hailwood and Peter Gethin making up the leading pack. The lead changed over 30 times and eight different drivers held the lead during the race!
Peterson led most of the race and he started the last lap in the lead. Cevert overtook Peterson entering the Lesmos. On the approach to the Parabolica for the last time Peterson prepared to retake the lead under braking but Gethin dived on the inside of both Peterson and Cevert.
Peterson and Cevert let Gethin through and the pack of five cars sprinted towards the finish line. As the checkered flag fell it was a photo-finish between Gethin and Peterson with Gethin winning by 0.01s. This was the fastest (242.615 kmph), shortest (1h, 18 minutes and 12.6 seconds) and closest finish in Grand Prix history.