How Max Verstappen can win fourth F1 title in Las Vegas

Following an imperious drive from 17th on the Interlagos grid to victory in the São Paulo Grand Prix, Max Verstappen now has a firm hand on his fourth F1 drivers’ championship.

The gap that Lando Norris had been chipping away at has become a chasm in the wake of Verstappen’s 62nd F1 victory that has opened up a 62-point cushion to the McLaren driver.

With 86 points on the table from the remaining three grands in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, with the middle of those also staging the last sprint of the season, it seems inconceivable that Verstappen will not make it four in a row.

Once he does so, he will stand alongside a true legend of the sport in Alain Prost, and match the feat achieved by another Red Bull star, Sebastian Vettel, just over a decade ago.

Verstappen could clinch that fourth title as early as the next race in Las Vegas, an event he roundly criticised in the build-up to its inaugural staging last year before claiming victory.

So, in Sin City, what does Verstappen need to do to ensure he leaves as a four-time champion? The bottom line is that Verstappen has to hold a 60-point lead over Norris after the Las Vegas Grand Prix to take the title.

Here, RacingNews365 looks at the permutations.

The easiest outcome is that if Verstappen simply finishes ahead of Norris, he scoops another drivers’ crown, but what…

If Verstappen is second…Norris has to win in Las Vegas to take the fight onto the next race in Qatar. Even if Verstappen also takes the point for the fastest lap, the equation is still the same.

If Verstappen is third…Norris can afford to finish second in this scenario, and the battle would spill over to Qatar. However, if the Dutch driver added the point for the fastest lap, the gap would be 60 points and Verstappen would be the champion. A Norris win would at least afford a little bit of leeway.

If Verstappen is fourth…A Norris win or finishing runner-up aids his cause, even third place, at a pinch, sees us move on to Qatar. As above, though, if Norris is third, Verstappen fourth, and the latter nabs the fastest lap, they are tied. Game over!

If Verstappen is fifth…Norris has to finish on the podium. Fourth place would not be good enough unless he was able to claim the fastest-lap point.

If Verstappen is sixth…The top four for Norris works in his favour. If fifth, he would again need the point for the fastest lap.

If Verstappen is seventh…The top five for Norris is required to keep things alive. If sixth, as above, the additional point is needed.

If Verstappen is eighth…It has to be the top six, on this occasion. If seventh, again the extra point keeps things bubbling – just!

If Verstappen is ninth…A similar scenario as the previous three. Norris in the top seven is fine. Eighth, however, and he will need to set the fastest lap.

If Verstappen is 10th…Norris has to finish in the top eight. Nothing else will do.

If Verstappen doesn’t score…Norris has to finish ninth with the fastest lap. If he is ninth without it, the gap is 60 points, and Verstappen wins on countback.