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Max Verstappen is potentially one drive away from cementing his legacy as one of the all-time great Formula 1 champions.
The Dutchman goes into this weekend's racing with a commanding 177-point lead over his nearest rival, teammate Sergio Perez.
To become this year's drivers' champion, Verstappen must finish Monday's (AEDT) Qatar Grand Prix with a lead of 146 points.
But the Dutchman might not even have to wait that long to claim the title, with a sprint race being held on Sunday morning (AEDT) during which the Red Bull star could secure the title.
Verstappen will become world champion if he scores three points in Sunday's sprint, meaning he only needs to finish sixth to secure the title.
There have been three previous sprint races this season, with Verstappen claiming two wins and a third place.
Below is a table of the lead Verstappen must have over Perez to claim the drivers' championship.
Formula 1 grand prix | Lead required after race |
|---|---|
Qatar | 146 |
United States | 112 |
Mexico | 86 |
Brazil | 52 |
Las Vegas | 26 |
Abu Dhabi | 0 |
Verstappen will join Juan Manuel Fangio, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton as the only drivers to win three consecutive championships.
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