7:caption
After failing to grab the first opportunity to win his second championship and seal the title at Singapore Grand Prix, Red Bull's Max Verstappen will have yet another opportunity to do so at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend. While Verstappen is a runaway favourite at this moment, things can turn quickly in sport and he would want to claim the title at the earliest, not giving an inch to his rivals
In order to claim the championship in this season, the 25-year-old does not only need to win the Japanese GP which is making a comeback after COVID-19 but also needs to hope that Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who happens to be his nearest rival, finishes lower than second. However, if Verstappen wins with the fastest lap bonus, the position of his nearest rival becomes irrelevant and he will emerge as the champion.
Statistically speaking, Verstappen is currently 104 points ahead of Leclerc and will need to extend that lead to 112 points to finish the title race with four races to go. This will not be the first time, if Verstappen indeed manages to achieve this feat, that a F1 racer will be crowned champion at the Japanese GP. In fact, as many as 12 Formula One world champions have sealed the deal here.
Verstappen will clinch the title in Japan GP in case any of the following permutations and combinations: