Formula 1: Ferrari facing elimination in 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix
By Asher Fair
Scuderia Ferrari are set to face mathematical elimination from 2018 Formula 1 constructor championship contention in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
After facing mathematical elimination from 2018 Formula 1 constructor championship contention in the 19th race of the 21-race season, the Mexican Grand Prix, but not being eliminated in this race, Scuderia Ferrari are set to face mathematical elimination from constructor championship contention once again in the season’s penultimate race, the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Ferrari trail Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport by 55 points (585 to 530) for the lead of the driver standings heading into the 71-lap race around the 15-turn, 2.677-mile (4.309-kilometer) Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
With two races remaining on the 2018 schedule, a maximum of 86 points are on the table for each team, as race victories are worth 25 points and second place finishes are worth 18 points. This means that with one race remaining on the schedule, a maximum of 43 points will be on the table for each team.
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Ferrari have earned six victories so far this season while Mercedes have earned nine, meaning that with two races remaining on the 2018 schedule, they cannot possibly match, much less pass, the win total of the Brackley-based team. As a result, Mercedes have clinched the tiebreaker if the two teams end up tying in points when the season concludes.
This means that Ferrari must remain within 42 points of Mercedes as opposed to 43 points after the Brazilian Grand Prix to remain mathematically eligible to win the constructor championship heading into the season finale, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
As a result, Ferrari must outscore Mercedes by at least 13 points in the Brazilian Grand Prix to remain mathematically eligible to win the constructor championship heading into the 21st and final race of the season.
In the Mexican Grand Prix, both Ferrari drivers finished ahead of both Mercedes drivers, as Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen finished in second and third place to score 18 points and 15 points, respectively, while Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas finished in fourth and fifth to score 12 points and 10 points, respectively.
Even with these results, Ferrari only managed to outscore Mercedes by 11 points, so it will be extremely challenging for them to outscore them by at least 13 points in the Brazilian Grand Prix to take the constructor championship battle to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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The Brazilian Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 11, and it is set to be broadcast live on ABC beginning at 12:10 p.m. ET, so be sure not to miss it. Just one race will remain on the 2018 Formula 1 schedule upon the conclusion of this race.