Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton facing elimination in Monza

Lewis Hamilton’s chances to win an eighth Formula 1 world championship in 2022 can officially come to an end this weekend in Monza.

Following this past Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort, there are just six drivers mathematically remaining in the running to win the 2022 Formula 1 world championship, and it’s no surprise that all compete for Red Bull, Ferrari, or Mercedes.

But one of those six drivers could be eliminated as early as this coming Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza: seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The Mercedes driver is on pace for a career-worst finish through his first 16 seasons in Formula 1, as he has never before finished outside the top five in the driver standings.

He sits in sixth place through the 22-race season’s first 15 races, and he has not yet stood on the top step of the podium in 2022. He entered the year with at least one win in all 15 of his previous seasons.

Entering this coming Sunday’s 53-lap race around the 11-turn, 3.6-mile (5.794-kilometer) Monza, Italy road course, he trails reigning world champion Max Verstappen by 152 points.

There are 26 points on the table for each driver in each race, with 25 going to the winner and another point on offer for the driver who runs the race’s fastest lap, provided that driver finishes in the top 10. There is also one sprint qualifying race left in 2022, and the winner of that race is awarded eight points.

So with seven races remaining on the 2022 schedule, a driver can score a maximum of 190 points before the end of the year.

Following the Italian Grand Prix, that number will drop to 164, meaning that if Max Verstappen can outscore Lewis Hamilton by at least 12 points in it, Hamilton will be eliminated from championship contention with six races to go.

Making things even more difficult for the 37-year-old Briton is the fact that he is set to start the race at the back of the grid due to an engine change penalty.

Verstappen would need to be 164 points ahead, not necessarily 165, since Hamilton cannot possibly secure the tiebreaker. The Red Bull driver already owns 10 wins this year, while Hamilton can only get up to seven.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. sits just one spot ahead of Hamilton in fifth place in the standings and trails Verstappen by 135 points. Sainz can only be up to 161 points behind by the end of the weekend, ensuring that Hamilton, who has never previously been mathematically eliminated from title contention with six races remaining, is the only driver facing elimination in Italy.

Hamilton’s odds to win the 2022 world championship, according to WynnBET, are +15000 (150-1), meaning that if you bet $100 on him to win the title, you will lose $100.

ESPN is set to broadcast the Italian Grand Prix live from Monza beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET this Sunday, September 11. If you have not yet begun your free trial of FuboTV, now would be a great time to do so!