Formula 1: George Russell facing elimination in Singapore

George Russell can be mathematically eliminated from winning the 2022 Formula 1 world championship in the Singapore Grand Prix.

After teammate Lewis Hamilton was mathematically eliminated from winning the 2022 Formula 1 world championship with his fifth place finish in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, George Russell faces the same possibility in the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit this Sunday, October 2.

Following his third place finish in the recent 53-lap race around the 11-turn, 3.6-mile (5.794-kilometer) road course in Monza, Italy, Russell sits in fourth place in the driver standings, 132 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the points lead.

With six races remaining on the 22-race schedule, any driver can score up to 164 more points. Race wins pay 25 points each, and there is a point up for grabs for the driver who records the fastest lap in each race.

We also cannot forget the fact that there is still one more sprint qualifying race, and the winner of that race scores eight points.

Following the upcoming 61-lap race around the 23-turn, 3.146-mile (5.063-kilometer) temporary street circuit in Marina Bay, Singapore, that 164-point total will drop to 138.

Russell hasn’t won this year while Verstappen has stood on the top step of the podium 11 times thus far, meaning that the latter has locked up the tiebreaker. Even if Russell wins out, he will have five fewer wins than the reigning world champion in 2022.

So if Russell trails Verstappen by more than 137 points following the Singapore Grand Prix, his title chances for 2022 will officially be no more.

Russell is one of four drivers who can be eliminated in this race, with Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. as well as Red Bull’s Sergio Perez facing the possibility of falling more than 137 points behind Verstappen.

With these three drivers being the only other title contenders, Verstappen has a chance to wrap up his second consecutive world championship in Marina Bay. Leclerc is his closest competition, sitting 116 points behind.

Tune in to ESPN at 7:55 a.m. ET this Sunday for the live broadcast of the Singapore Grand Prix from Marina Bay Street Circuit. Start a free trial of FuboTV if you haven’t already done so!