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Formula 1: Can Lewis Hamilton secure his sixth title in the United States?

By Asher Fair

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 27: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 27, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 27: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 27, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images) /
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Can Lewis Hamilton become Formula 1’s second ever six-time world champion in the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas?

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport teammates Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are the only two drivers remaining in championship contention with three races remaining on the 21-race 2019 Formula 1 schedule.

With that being said, it has been practically a forgone conclusion that Hamilton would become a six-time champion ever since he took the lead of the driver standings following the Spanish Grand Prix in mid-May.

Hamilton’s lead over Bottas in the driver standings is 74 points heading into the season’s 19th race, the United States Grand Prix, at Circuit of the Americas.

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Can Hamilton become a six-time champion in this 56-lap race around the 20-turn, 3.427-mile (5.515-kilometer) Circuit of the Americas road course in Austin, Texas?

With three races remaining on the schedule, there are a maximum of 78 points available for each driver, as race victories are worth 25 points and fastest laps are worth one point.

So when the United States Grand Prix ends, there will be a maximum of 52 points available for each driver throughout the remainder of the season.

Hamilton has won 10 races so far this season while Bottas has won three, meaning that the 34-year-old Briton has secured the tiebreaker over the 30-year-old Finn. This means that Bottas must remain within 51 points of Hamilton following the United States Grand Prix to remain in championship contention.

As long as Hamilton can avoid being outscored by more than 22 points by Bottas in this race, he will be crowned champion for the sixth time.

The only way Bottas can score 22 points is if he wins and scores 25 or perhaps 26 if he also records the race’s fastest lap.

If Bottas wins and scores 25 points or even if he scores 26, Hamilton must finish in the top eight to clinch the championship, as an eighth place finish is worth four points.

Hamilton would either lead Bottas by 52 points or 53 points if this scenario unfolds, which is all it will take for him to become the first six-time champion since seven-time champion Michael Schumacher was crowned for the sixth time in the 2003 season.

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ABC is set to broadcast the United States Grand Prix live from Circuit of the Americas beginning at 2:05 p.m. ET this Sunday, November 3. Will Lewis Hamilton be a six-time Formula 1 champion upon its conclusion?

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