Formula 1: Charles Leclerc facing elimination in Japan

Charles Leclerc is one of three drivers still eligible to win the 2022 Formula 1 world championship, but he could be mathematically eliminated in Japan.

Five drivers entered this past Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit still mathematically in contention to win the 2022 Formula 1 world championship.

But after this 59-lap race at the 23-turn, 3.146-mile (5.063-kilometer) temporary street circuit in Marina Bay, Singapore, only three drivers remain eligible with five races remaining on the 22-race schedule.

One of those three drivers is Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who sits in second place in the driver strandings, 104 points behind points leader Max Verstappen after a second place finish in Sunday’s race. He began the race 116 points behind Verstappen, who finished in seventh to end a five-race winning streak after a weekend to forget.

Charles Leclerc, however, could still see his title aspirations end as early as this Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit.

Right now, there are 138 points remaining on the table for each driver. Race wins pay 25 points and a driver can earn an additional point by running a race’s fastest lap. Additionally, there is still one more sprint qualifying race on the schedule, and the winner of that earns eight points.

Following the upcoming 53-lap race at the 18-turn, 3.609-mile (5.808-kilometer) road course in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan, there will be just 112 points remaining on the table for each driver.

Because Verstappen owns 11 wins and Leclerc owns three with five races remaining, the reigning world champion has clinched the tiebreaker over Leclerc (and everybody else, for that matter).

So if Verstappen ends up at least 112 points ahead of Leclerc once the weekend ends, Leclerc will be mathematically eliminated from title contention.

Three races into the season, Leclerc found himself 46 points ahead of Verstappen.

Leclerc must avoid being outscored by eight or more points by the Red Bull driver in Japan to prevent this.

A win is guaranteed to keep Leclerc in contention heading into the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, October 23, as would a second place finish with a fastest lap. Even if Verstappen won the race under the latter scenario, he would only outscore Leclerc by six.

Begin a free trial of FuboTV now if you have not yet done so! ESPN is set to broadcast the Japanese Grand Prix live from Suzuka Circuit on ESPN beginning at 1:00 a.m. ET this Sunday, October 9.