How Max Verstappen can clinch the F1 Drivers’ title in Las Vegas, and what Lando Norris needs to do to stay alive

F1 is in the final stages of the 2024 season.

Next weekend, the grid for the second Las Vegas Grand Prix will arrive in Las Vegas. The first event a season ago got off to a rocky start when Carlos Sainz Jr. climbed over a loose manhole cover during the first practice session, causing significant damage to his SF-23, bringing out a red flag and prolonging the session. I cut it. night.

However, the race itself is one of the most thrilling Grands Prix of 2023, and the second Las Vegas Grand Prix could be even better.

Because there are two titles at stake.

Last year, Red Bull arrived in Las Vegas having already won the constructors' championship, with Max Verstappen clinching his third consecutive drivers' championship with a second-place finish in the F1 sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix. That meant the big battle in Las Vegas took place further back on the grid.

But this year, with the Las Vegas Strip booming, both the drivers' and constructors' titles remain in doubt. However, Verstappen still has a chance to win his fourth consecutive drivers' title in Las Vegas.

Here's how:

What is the current standings in the drivers' championship?

The top 10 drivers in the current F1 Drivers' Championship rankings ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix are as follows. As we'll soon see, McLaren driver Lando Norris is the only driver with a mathematical chance of beating Verstappen in the F1 Drivers' Championship. The two sides have been engaged in a thrilling battle over the latter half of the 2024 F1 season.

The current difference between Verstappen and Norris is 62 points. More details later.

How are points distributed in F1?

Before we get into how many points you have left to earn this season, let's quickly remind you about how points are allocated in Grand Prix events.

There is also one F1 sprint race left in Qatar. In F1 sprint races, the top eight finishers earn points. It starts with eight points for the winner and reduces to one point for the driver who finishes eighth.

How many more points can we earn in 2024?

There are three grands prix remaining in the 2024 F1 season: the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the Qatar Grand Prix, and the final race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. There is one more F1 sprint race this season and it will be held at the Qatar Grand Prix.

This means the maximum points a driver can earn over the final three race weekends is 86 points. In theory, drivers could maximize their performance in these last races by:

Winning the Las Vegas Grand Prix earns you 26 bonus points for fastest lap (25 points for victory and 1 point for fastest lap).

Win the F1 Sprint Race in Qatar and also win the Qatar Grand Prix itself and get bonus points for Fastest Lap: 34 points (8 points for F1 Sprint Race win, 25 points for Grand Prix win, 1 for Grand Prix win Points) Fastest lap at the Grand Prix).

Win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and get bonus points for fastest lap: 26 points (25 points for victory and 1 point for fastest lap).

In other words, the points that can be earned after the Las Vegas Grand Prix will be 60 points.

Who still has a chance to catch Verstappen?

Lando Norris is the only driver who has a mathematical chance of catching Verstappen. There is currently a 62 point difference between the two drivers. Norris must be within 59 points to have a chance of catching Verstappen on the grid heading to Abu Dhabi. If the difference is 60 points or more, Verstappen will win the title in Las Vegas.

For those wondering, Verstappen currently holds the tiebreaker record against Norris, with eight Grand Prix wins this season. Norris cannot catch him in that department – the McLaren driver has won three grands prix this year – so Verstappen has already secured the tiebreaker advantage. If the two drivers finish at the same level, somehow Verstappen will win the title.

How can Verstappen win the drivers' title in Las Vegas and what can Norris do to survive?

Simply put, Verstappen must keep any gain in points from Norris to less than two points. If Norris can pick up at least three points over Verstappen in Las Vegas, the difference between the two will be 59 points and Norris will remain in the title race.

However, if Norris scored just 2 points from Verstappen in Las Vegas, the difference would be 60 points, and even if Norris scored the full potential 60 points in Qatar and Abu Dhabi as outlined above, Verstappen would still be able to score on those two points. He did not score a single point in the two grand races. Grand Prix and F1 Sprint Races – They end season levels.

And Verstappen has already won the tiebreaker.

Las Vegas Grand Prix title scenario

The table below provides an overview of possible scenarios.

As you can see, Norris will need some luck in Las Vegas to continue chasing next weekend.