Formula 1: Mercedes can really clinch the title already
By Asher Fair
Mercedes already have a chance to secure the 2020 Formula 1 world constructor championship in the 12th race of the 17-race season.
In an ordinary Formula 1 season, we may be approaching the 18th or 19th race of a 21-race calendar this weekend. But due to the rescheduling caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we are heading to only the 12th of 17 races on this year’s revised schedule.
And yet already, Mercedes have a chance to clinch their seventh consecutive constructor championship in this race.
This Sunday’s race is the first Portuguese Grand Prix since 1996, when the race was contested at Autódromo do Estoril. This Sunday’s race is set to be the first ever at Algarve International Circuit.
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Entering this 66-lap race around the 15-turn, 2.91-mile (4.683-kilometer) road course in Portimao, Algarve, Portugal, there is only one team still mathematically eligible to win this year’s constructor championship aside from Mercedes: Red Bull.
Throughout the remaining six races of the season total of 264 points remain on offer for each team with 44 available in each race (25 for winning, 18 for a second place finish and one for securing the race’s fastest lap).
Racing Point are the highest team in the constructor standings aside from Red Bull, and they already sit 271 points behind Mercedes (391 to 120).
Through 11 races, Mercedes have racked up nine victories while Red Bull have only Max Verstappen’s victory in the second of two races at Silverstone Circuit back in August.
Mercedes have a 180-point lead over Red Bull (391 to 211) heading into this Sunday’s race. With a maximum of 44 points on the table in this race, that lead could potentially grow to 224 points by the end of the race weekend.
That would put Mercedes 224 points ahead of Red Bull with five races remaining and a maximum of only 220 points on the table throughout the rest of the year, thus securing them another constructor championship and making them the first team in Formula 1 history to win seven in a row.
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Tune in to ESPN at 9:10 a.m. ET this Sunday, October 25 to see if Mercedes can secure their seventh consecutive constructor championship in the Portuguese Grand Prix at Algarve International Circuit.