What Max Verstappen needs to do to win the Formula 1 title at Singapore GP

It has been inevitable for some time, but Max Verstappen is now within touching distance of his second Formula 1 title.

The Dutchman can wrap up the 2022 World Championship at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, which gets underway on Sunday 2nd October at 1pm.

As it stands, Verstappen is 116 points clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, and 125 points ahead of his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.

So what exactly needs to happen for Verstappen to wrap up the title? Metro Sport takes a look at the various permutations:

After the Singapore Grand Prix they will be just five races left in the season, with 26 points up for grabs at each event (25 for the win and a bonus point for setting the fastest lap), plus eight points for winning the final sprint race of the year at Brazil.

As a result, Verstappen must outscore Leclerc by 22 points and Perez by 13 points, which would give him an unassailable 138 point lead.

Simply put, if Verstappen wants to seal the championship at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, he must win the race.

F1 points system:

1st – 25 points

2nd – 18 points

3rd – 15 points

4th – 12 points

5th – 10 points

6th – 8 points

7th – 6 points

8th – 4 points

9th – 2 points

10th – 1 point

Fastest lap of the race – 1 point

Given that he has won the last five grand prix on the bounce, victory in Singapore is likely, though that alone will not give him the title.

If he wins and Leclerc finishes ninth or lower and Perez finishes fourth or lower or fifth and lower with fastest lap, the title is Verstappen’s.

Should the Dutchman win and set the fastest lap, Leclerc must finish eighth or lower and Perez must finish fourth or lower for the championship to be over.

Given all this, it is more likely that Verstappen will seal the deal not in Singapore but rather at the next race in Japan on 9th October.

As for the constructors’ championship, Red Bull cannot claim their first title since 2013 at Singapore but may well do so in Japan.

They currently lead Ferrari by 139 points with 88 points up fro grabs at the next two grand prix, while a lead of 191 points is all that is required to win the championship after the race at Suzuka.

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