Max Verstappen is on the verge of collecting the F1 world driver's championship title as the Japanese Grand Prix approaches this weekend with experts and fans busy working out all the latest permutations.
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The Dutch superstar has been dominant all season with very few credible threats to his title defence in 2022 with promising contenders falling away quickly.
Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez has looked very solid, a perfect foil for the world champion, without ever appearing likely to challenge him all the way to the title.
Ferrari appeared to offer some threat at the start of the campaign, though their season has been let down by a string of team blunders and errors, while Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez has been simply unable to keep pace with the flying Dutchman.
Fans are already whipping out the calculators to determine when Verstappen can formally be crowned king of the circuit, but fear not, we've done all the calculations for you below.
RadioTimes.com brings you all the details as Max Verstappen bears down on the F1 driver championship.
Can Max Verstappen win F1 championship at Japanese Grand Prix?
Yes! The Formula 1 driver's championship could be all neatly wrapped up by the end of play on Sunday, and unlike last weekend, it's entirely in his hands.
In its most condensed form, if Verstappen wins this weekend with a fastest lap point, he will be crowned champion regardless of where anybody else finishes.
If Verstappen wins the race without the fastest lap point, Charles Leclerc must finish third or below.
If either Leclerc or Perez finish ahead of Verstappen, he cannot be crowned champion in Japan.
If Verstappen doesn't win the race, he must score eight more points than Leclerc and six more points than Perez to lift the title on Sunday.
How to watch Japanese Grand Prix on TV
The Japanese Grand Prix will air live on Sky Sports F1 from 4:30am on Sunday 9th October 2022.
There will also be free-to-air highlights of the race on Channel 4 on Sunday evening.
Live stream Japanese Grand Prix online
Existing Sky Sports customers can live stream the race via the Sky Go app on a variety of devices.
You can watch the Grand Prix with a NOW Day Membership for £11.98 or a Monthly Membership for £33.99, all without signing up to a contract.
NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs, phones and consoles. NOW is also available via BT Sport.
If you’re looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or visit our Sport hub.
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Michael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times, covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews, features, interviews and more. He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture. He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014.
