Again-to-back victories for Lewis Hamilton have utterly modified the texture round his championship battle with Max Verstappen.

Simply two races in the past after a dominant win on the Mexican Grand Prix, Verstappen appeared like he was cruising to the championship., a lot so it appeared like he would possibly actually have a likelihood to wrap it up on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Dec. 5.

Heading to that occasion Verstappen nonetheless leads the championship by eight factors however that is a lot slimmer than he or Crimson Bull would have preferred — or predicted – at this stage of the season.

Factors standings:

Verstappen – 351.5
Hamilton – 343.5

The run-in:

Dec. 5 – Saudi Arabia Grand Prix
Dec. 12 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

F1’s factors: First, 25 factors; second, 18 factors; third, 15 factors; fourth, 12 factors; fifth, 10 factors; sixth, 8 factors; seventh, 6 factors; eighth, 4 factors; ninth, 2 factors; tenth, 1 level.

There may be additionally an additional level to contemplate at every occasion, with the driving force who scores the quickest lap gaining a bonus level, offered in addition they end within the prime ten.

Countback tiebreaker: Verstappen at the moment leads the countback tiebreaker 9 wins to Hamilton’s seven, which in the mean time could be used to settle any factors tie.

Verstappen may win the title in Saudi

Because the factors chief, there’s an outdoor likelihood Verstappen can win the title on the penultimate spherical. With eight factors in hand over Hamilton, the Crimson Bull driver would win the championship if he outscored his rival by 18. That may put him 26 forward for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the countback tiebreaker which means Hamilton wouldn’t win the title even when he claimed most factors on the finale and Verstappen failed to attain.

Within the context of this season, 18 factors is a giant swing to ask for. This can be a single-race achieve Verstappen loved after profitable the Monaco Grand Prix in Might, whereas Hamilton struggled to seventh place. Hamilton gained 26 over Verstappen by profitable the British Grand Prix and claiming quickest lap, whereas the Crimson Bull driver was knocked out of the race after their controversial collision.

For probably the most half massive factors swings have been uncommon. The pair have shared the rostrum 13 occasions this season, with solely 5 situations the place one was on it with out the opposite.

Calling a winner

From this stage, the season appears extra unimaginable to name than ever earlier than. Like Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix, the following race is at a brand new venue, the Saudi Grand Prix on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, including one other component of the unknown to that contest. The finale, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, takes place at a Yas Marina circuit which has been revised from earlier years to enhance overtaking alternatives.

Consequently it is arduous to name which staff’s automobile would go well with which circuit. Mercedes was crushed on uncooked tempo within the U.S. and Mexico, solely to have the stronger automobile in Brazil and Qatar. The positive aspects made by Mercedes this late within the season have raised Crimson Bull’s suspicions in regards to the legality of its rivals’ rear wing, however that a part of the automobile handed additional FIA exams in Qatar.

Hamilton and Mercedes clearly maintain the momentum at this stage and one other win for the seven-time world champion in Jeddah would comply with the present kind information. One thrilling prospect that gained traction on social media on the weekend is Hamilton profitable and gaining the quickest lap level in Saudi, with Verstappen ending second, which means they go to the title showdown stage on factors.

The quickest lap level can even play an intriguing function within the last two rounds. With the championship so finely poised, these additional two factors may nicely be decisive.

Qatar was a very good instance of how essential they may very well be. Lewis Hamilton held the quickest lap till Verstappen used a big hole to 3rd place to pit for comfortable tyres, taking the bonus level from his rival and claiming it for himself. It turned an eight-point Hamilton achieve right into a six-point Hamilton achieve, which is vastly vital in a championship this shut.