Lewis Hamilton has his first shot at clinching the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship at this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix.
Hamilton is seeking to win the Formula 1 world title for a fourth successive season – becoming only the third person to do so – and seventh time overall, to equal Michael Schumacher’s record.
Hamilton needs an advantage of 78 points after the conclusion of Sunday’s race if he is to wrap up proceedings with three rounds still left in the season.
He currently holds a lead of 85 points over Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who is the only driver still mathematically in contention for individual honours.
Bottas therefore needs to out-score Hamilton by eight points if he is to remain in the running heading to Bahrain.
A victory for Hamilton, irrespective of Bottas’ result, would seal the crown, while he can still clinch the title with second, so long as the Finn does not win and take the fastest lap point.
Bottas has only out-scored Hamilton by eight points at two of this year’s 13 grands prix – when he won in Austria and Russia, with Hamilton fourth and third respectively on those occasions.
It would equal Hamilton’s previous earliest title win, in 2015, having won the last three titles with two rounds remaining in each season.
Formula 1 has not competed at Turkey’s Istanbul Park circuit since 2011.
Hamilton triumphed in 2010 while Bottas has never raced at the venue.
Should Hamilton clinch the title he will be the oldest driver to do so since Damon Hill in 1996.
Mercedes is already assured of a seventh world title after building an unassailable lead over Red Bull with a 1-2 finish at Imola.
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