That means any finish ahead of Norris will secure the title, as will Norris failing to finish inside the top eight. Beyond that, third place with the fastest lap will be enough if Norris is second, or fourth place with the fastest lap if Norris is third.
If Norris is fourth, then P5 is enough for Verstappen, as long as the McLaren driver doesn’t take the extra point for fastest lap, and the Red Bull driver can also finish one place adrift if Norris is fifth, sixth, or seventh, again as long as his closest rival doesn’t set the fastest lap.
Should Norris finish eighth, then Verstappen can win the title by coming home in 10th place and adding the extra point for fastest lap too.
For a simple version: If Norris outscores Verstappen by three points or more, the fight rolls onto the penultimate round in Qatar.
Tense constructors’ battles
While the drivers’ title situation could be resolved this weekend, the constructors’ battle looks like running all the way to the final round in Abu Dhabi. And that’s not just when it comes to who will be champion, either…
In the fight for the title, McLaren lead the way by 36 points from Ferrari, with Red Bull 49 off the lead after closing slightly in Brazil to keep it a three-way battle.