Max Verstappen is aiming for his fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship and will become just the sixth man in its history to win four world titles.
However, he will have to pass the Lando Norris test at the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend to achieve the feat. Juan Manuel Fangio (five titles), Alain Prost (four), Michael Schumacher (seven), Sebastian Vettel (four) and Lewis Hamilton (seven) are the other Formula 1 who achieved the milestone.
The Dutchman got to a sensational start to the season winning seven of the 10 Formula 1 races. However, his form dipped as he went winless for 10 races until he found his mojo back after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix three weeks ago.
The three-time Formula 1 champion now needs only to stay ahead of Norris, or keep the McLaren driver out of the top eight finishers in Las Vegas, to retain his crown.
The Redbull driver, on 393, holds a 62-point lead over Norris, on 331, with 61 more points to be won after the Vegas race.
Norris will have to beat Verstappen and finish in the top eight to keep his drivers’ championship alive. The Brit needs to score at least three more points than Verstappen in this weekend’s Grand Prix to keep his hope alit.
The 25-year-old had narrowed the gap from 84 points at the halfway point of the season to 47 before the Brazilian Grand Prix, but Verstappen extended his lead to 62 by winning the race, while Norris finished sixth.
The role of 86 points
There are three races remaining in the season with Qatar and Abu Dhabi following on consecutive weekends after Las Vegas. The winner of each race will collect 25 points per win while combining extra points for the fastest lap, that number will rise to 26 points per race. This means with three races remaining, each racer can earn a maximum of 78 points. However, there is a twist. Qatar GP will have a sprint race where eight points will be up for grabs, taking the maximum tally to 86 points.
This implies Norris can reach a maximum of 417 points, needing 418 to win the title. This means he will need 25 points to win the title in Las Vegas.
However, the going might not be as easy for Norris as McLaren is seeking a first constructors’ title since 1998. They lead the teams’ title race with 593 ahead of Ferrari on 557 and Red Bull on 544.
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Therefore, the Brit will race with clear instructions not to take excessive risks after crashing out last year and underperforming in Brazil despite starting from the pole position.
McLaren team chief Zak Brown is said to have urged Norris to push to the limits, but only to an extent this weekend following two flashpoint battles between the drivers in Texas and Mexico.
