The narrowest points margin to win a Formula One World Championship is 0.5 points, achieved by Niki Lauda over Alain Prost in 1984.
The season-long battle took place between McLaren teammates Lauda and Prost. Prost won seven of the 16 races, while Lauda won five, but championship points were calculated using only a driver's best results under the rules then in force. That system made every result especially important.
Lauda finished the season with 72 points, while Prost scored 71.5. The half-point margin resulted from the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix, which was stopped early because of heavy rain and awarded half points. Prost finished second, receiving 4.5 points instead of the full nine available for second place.
The result remains one of Formula One's most famous narrow title finishes. It is also easy to confuse the margin with a one-point championship victory, such as Lewis Hamilton's 2008 title or Kimi Räikkönen's 2007 championship.