Max Verstappen missed the chance to claim his second F1 Drivers Championship after finishing eighth in the Singapore Grand Prix.
Although the Red Bull driver has another opportunity to make it back-to-back titles this weekend as the grid heads to Japan.
The Dutchman’s lead is so commanding that only Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez can theoretically beat him with five races of the season remaining.
Verstappen is currently topping the drivers’ standings with 341 points – 104 clear of Leclerc in second, and a further two ahead of Perez.
No driver has ever blown such a commanding lead at this stage of the season, with the likelihood that Verstappen wins it all in Japan.
But what are the different ways in which he can do so?
And can one of the biggest title comebacks in Formula 1 history provide any glimmer of hope for his rivals? talkSPORT.com takes a look…
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F1 title permutations: If Verstappen finishes first
Verstappen needs to be 112 points ahead of his nearest competitor in the standings after the race at Suzuka to clinch the championship.
That would make him only the third driver ever after Michael Schumacher (2001/2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2011) to claim the title with four races of the season still do go.
If Verstappen crosses the chequered flag first next weekend than he will be crowned champion again if Leclerc finishes lower than second.
Yet should the 25-year-old also claim the fastest lap alongside his win then he will retain his title regardless of the Ferrari star’s result.
Including Japan, there are a maximum of 138 points up for grabs factoring in the 26 awarded for race wins with the fastest lap bonus – as well as the additional eight for victory in next month’s sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Leclerc is also trailing in race wins 11-3 to Verstappen, meaning if he finished the season level on points he would not win the title.
The Monegasque man and Perez can each keep the championship fight going at least another week until the USA if they finish ahead of Verstappen.
Verstappen finishing outside the top six would also not give him the magic 112 point lead over Leclerc that he needs to win in Japan.
Biggest title comebacks in F1 history
John Surtees 1964: 20 points behind with five races to go (points system: 9-6-4-3-2-1)
James Hunt 1976: 17 points behind with three races to go (points system: 9-6-4-3-2-1)
Nelson Piquet 1983: 14 points behind with three races to go (points system: 9-6-4-3-2-1)
Alain Prost 1986: 11 points behind with two races to go (points system: 9-6-4-3-2-1)
Kimi Raikkonen 2007: 17 points behind with two races to go (points system: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1)
Sebastian Vettel 2010: 31 points behind with six races to go (points system: 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1)
F1 title permutations: If Verstappen finishes second to sixth
Without claiming the race victory in Suzuka, Verstappen needs a minimum of eight more points than Leclerc and only six more than Perez.
- Verstappen finishes second with fastest lap: He will be champ if Leclerc finishes fifth or lower – Perez finishes fourth or lower
- Verstappen finishes second without fastest lap: He will be champ if Leclerc finishes lower than fifth or finishes fifth without bonus point – Perez finishes lower than fourth or finishes fourth without bonus point
- Verstappen finishes third with fastest lap: Leclerc has to finish fifth or higher to deny him – Perez fourth
- Verstappen finishes third without fastest lap: Leclerc has to finish sixth or higher to deny him – Perez fifth
- Verstappen finishes fourth: Leclerc needs to finish at least seventh – Perez finishes sixth or seventh with bonus point
- Verstappen finishes fifth: Leclerc would have to finish no lower than eighth – Perez seventh
- Verstappen finishes sixth: Leclerc would have to finish outside the points – Perez can extend title race by finishing eighth or ninth with bonus point