Lewis Hamilton has a good chance at winning at securing his fourth career Formula One championship this Sunday in the Mexican Grand Prix. Here is how he can do it.
Following the United States Grand Prix, the 17th Formula One race of the season, just three races remain on this season’s schedule in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi. The Mexican Grand Prix is set to take place this weekend at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Lewis Hamilton, 32, who drives for Mercedes, was able to win the United States Grand Prix and extend his lead in the drivers standings to 66 points over Sebastian Vettel, 30, who drives for Ferrari, and 87 points over Valtteri Bottas, 28, Hamilton’s teammate, which officially makes Bottas eliminated from championship contention.
Vettel, however, is still in contention for his fifth career Formula One championship and first since 2013. But with a 66-point lead, Lewis Hamilton can seal the deal in the Mexican Grand Prix to secure his fourth career Formula One championship and his third in the last four seasons.
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There are a total of 25 points on the table for race winners in each of the remaining three races on this season’s schedule, meaning there are a maximum of 75 points left up for grabs for each driver.
Because Lewis Hamilton has clinched the win tiebreaker over Sebastian Vettel since Hamilton has won nine races so far this season while Vettel has won only four and there are just three races to go in the 2017 season, Vettel is still alive in the championship hunt because he is currently within 74 points of Hamilton in the standings.
Vettel will stay alive in the championship hunt after the Mexican Grand Prix if he is within 49 points of Hamilton, and he will stay alive in the championship after the Brazilian Grand Prix before the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix if he is within 24 points of Hamilton. But Hamilton could also clinch the 2017 title in Mexico.
Here is how Hamilton can lock up his fourth career Formula One championship this Sunday in the Mexican Grand Prix.
- If Lewis Hamilton would win the race, he would gain 25 points and be ahead of Sebastian Vettel by at least 73 points in the standings even if Vettel would finish the race in 2nd place and gain 18 points.
- If Lewis Hamilton would finish the race in 2nd place, he would gain 18 points and be ahead of Sebastian Vettel by at least 59 points even if Vettel would win the race and gain 25 points.
- If Lewis Hamilton would finish the race in 3rd place, he would gain 15 points and be ahead of Sebastian Vettel by at least 56 points even if Vettel would win the race and gain 25 points.
- If Lewis Hamilton would finish the race in 4th place, he would gain 12 points and be ahead of Sebastian Vettel by at least 53 points even if Vettel would win the race and gain 25 points.
- If Lewis Hamilton would finish the race in 5th place, he would gain 10 points and be ahead of Sebastian Vettel by at least 51 points even if Vettel would win the race and gain 25 points.
- If Lewis Hamilton would finish the race in 6th place, he would gain 8 points and would need Sebastian Vettel to finish in 2nd place or lower and gain 18 points or less so that Hamilton would be ahead of Vettel by at least 56 points.
- If Lewis Hamilton would finish the race in 7th place, he would gain 6 points and would need Sebastian Vettel to finish in 2nd place or lower and gain 18 points or less so that Hamilton would be ahead of Vettel by at least 54 points.
- If Lewis Hamilton would finish the race in 8th place, he would gain 4 points and would need Sebastian Vettel to finish in 2nd place or lower and gain 18 points or less so that Hamilton would be ahead of Vettel by at least 52 points.
- If Lewis Hamilton would finish the race in 9th place, he would gain 2 points and would need Sebastian Vettel to finish in 2nd place or lower and gain 18 points or less so that Hamilton would be ahead of Vettel by at least 50 points.
- If Lewis Hamilton would finish the race in 10th place, he would gain 1 point and would need Sebastian Vettel to finish in 3rd place or lower and gain 15 points or less so that Hamilton would be ahead of Vettel by at least 52 points.
- If Lewis Hamilton would finish the race in 11th place or lower, he would gain 0 points and would need Sebastian Vettel to finish in 3rd place or lower and gain 15 points or less so that Hamilton would be ahead of Vettel by at least 51 points.
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Will Lewis Hamilton be able to secure his fourth career Formula One championship this weekend? Be sure to tune in live to NBC at 3:00 PM ET on Sunday, October 29th, 2017 for the Mexican Grand Prix at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico to find out.