After producing one of the great victories in Formula 1 to claim the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Max Verstappen is on the verge of winning the drivers’ championship.
The Red Bull star, who has claimed the previous three world championships, can win a historic fourth-consecutive title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
There are three race weekends left in the F1 year, with three grands prix and one sprint race to finish the season.
Verstappen enters the third-last race weekend of the year with a 62-point lead on McLaren’s Lando Norris.
There is a maximum of 86 points a driver can still win this season.
To achieve all 86 points, a driver would need to win all three grands prix, with the fastest lap and the sprint race.
Las Vegas will host just a grand prix, with a maximum of 26 points up for grabs.
Verstappen will win the world championship if he ends the Las Vegas Grand Prix with a 60-point lead over Norris.
Winning the Las Vegas Grand Prix would guarantee a fourth world championship.
For Norris to keep the title fight alive until the next weekend in Qatar, he must score three more championship points than Verstappen.
Here are the results Verstappen needs to win the world championship.
| Max Verstappen result in Las Vegas | Minimum Norris must achieve to keep title race alive |
|---|---|
| 1st | N/A |
| 2nd | 1st |
| 3rd | 2nd or 1st if Verstappen takes fastest lap |
| 4th | 3rd or 2nd if Verstappen takes fastest lap |
| 5th | 4th with fastest lap or 3rd |
| 6th | 5th with fastest lap or 4th |
| 7th | 6th with fastest lap or 5th |
| 8th | 7th with fastest lap or 6th |
| 9th | 8th with fastest lap or 7th |
| 10th | 9th with fastest lap or 8th |
| 11th or lower | 9th with fastest lap or 8th |
