Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 recently wrapped up the constructors title in Suzuka last weekend. The Brackely team has now racked up six world titles in a row, even with four races still left to run on the calendar. Since Leclerc, Verstappen, and the rest of the field mathematically are out of the running for the drivers championship, the only question left unanswered is: will it be Valtteri or Lewis who will lift the drivers trophy at seasons end?
Hamilton is tipped to win his sixth world title this year. The Briton has a 64-point buffer to Bottas. With only 104 points left to be won, Valtteri needs some serious good fortune to snatch the crown from Lewis.
In the four races left, assuming Bottas wins them all, including the fastest lap for each race, the Finn will finish the year with 378 points. This would mean that Lewis needs to score only 41 or more. If he merely finishes fourth in all remaining races, he will still secure the championship. Even if the Mercedes pair comes out tied after the final race in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton, by virtue of having more race wins, will still be declared the champ.
The next race will be at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico, and Lewis can celebrate early by winning the race, taking the fastest lap (giving him 26 points), and with Valtteri finishing 4th or lower. He can also come in second in Mexico with the Finn coming in 8th or lower, and the crown would still be his. The thing that would give a glimmer of hope for Bottas is if the #44 fails to reach the podium in Mexico and Austin.
Odds are stacked in Lewis’ favor, and when Hamilton does finally claim his 6th drivers championship, he will be second on the all time list, just one away from equalling the record of the great Michael Schumacher, who has seven world titles to his name.
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