Formula 1: Nine drivers eliminated after 2018 Belgian Grand Prix

Nine Formula 1 drivers have been mathematically eliminated from 2018 championship contention following the conclusion of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Nine of the 20 full-time Formula 1 drivers have been mathematically eliminated from championship contention following the 13th race of the 21-race season, the Belgian Grand Prix, meaning just 10 more will be mathematically eliminated before the end of the season.

The 44-lap race around the 19-turn, 4.352-mile (7.004-kilometer) Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps road course in Stavelot, Belgium began with all 20 drivers still mathematically eligible to win this year’s driver championship.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport’s Lewis Hamilton entered the Belgian Grand Prix on top of the driver standings with 213 points. With nine races remaining in the season heading into the race, a total of 225 points were still on the table for each driver since race wins are worth 25 points.

Hamilton finished the race in second place. As a result, he scored 18 points. His point total rose from 213 to 231, and with eight races remaining in the season, the amount of points on the table for each driver dropped from 225 points to 200 points.

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As a result, all drivers who are not within 200 points of Hamilton at this point – in other words, all drivers who have not scored at least 31 points so far this season – have been mathematically eliminated from championship contention.

Williams Martini Racing’s Sergey Sirotkin entered the race with zero points, and he failed to score points in it as a result of his 12th place finish. His teammate, Lance Stroll, entered the race with four points, and he, too, failed to score points in it as a result of his 13th place finish.

Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley entered the race with two points, and he failed to score points in it as a result of his 14th place finish. His teammate, Pierre Gasly, entered the race with 26 points, and he scored two points in it as a result of his ninth place finish, bringing him to 28 points so far this season.

Alfa Romeo Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson entered the race with five points, and he scored one point in it as a result of his 10th place finish, bringing him to six points to far this season. Charles Leclerc entered the race with 13 points, and he failed to score points in it as a result of his 18th place finish.

McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne entered the race with eight points, and he failed to score points in it as a result of his 15th place finish. Haas’ Romain Grosjean entered the race with 21 points, and he scored six points in it as a result of his seventh place finish, bringing him to 27 points so far this season.

Finally, Renault Sport’s Carlos Sainz Jr. entered the race with 30 points, and he failed to score points in it as a result of his 11th place finish.

None of these nine drivers truly had a legitimate chance to win this season’s championship anyway, but now their fates have been sealed since they have been mathematically eliminated from championship contention as a result of all of this.

Remaining in championship contention are Mercedes teammates Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, Scuderia Ferrari teammates Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing teammates Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, Racing Point Force India teammates Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg, Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and McLaren’s Fernando Alonso.

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All of the non-Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing drivers included in this list will likely be mathematically eliminated from championship contention within the next race or two given their current point totals, and like it did last season, this season’s Formula 1 championship will likely come down to Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

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