Today we go over what Lewis Hamilton has to do in order to become world champion in Austin. At the American race, the British driver will be faced with his first real chance to win his fifth title.  

The Formula 1 Grand Prix of the United States will take place this Sunday, the 21st of October, at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

If the Briton does indeed manage to get his fifth title on American soil, onboard his Silver Arrow #44, he will be matching the five victories of legendary Argentinian racer Juan Manuel Fangio.  

Austin; Hamilton’s turf 

The racer from Stevenage arrives at the 18th race of the year in a commanding leading position and in excellent spirits after his sweeping victory at the last Japanese Grand Prix. 

It is with good reason that the leader is optimistic after having won the last four consecutive races (Italy, Singapore, Russia and Japan) and a total of six over the last seven up to Grand Prix of the United States. 

Hamilton now has 331 points, 67 more than main rival, Ferrari’s off-coloured main man Sebastian Vettel. There are just four races left in the season (USA, Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dabi) and 100 points up for grabs. With this numbers on the table, there are quite a few different outcomes that would make Hamilton world champion in the Grand Prix of the United States.  

As well as having the numbers on his side, Hamilton is fortunate to be racing at one of his favourite locations. The Texan circuit has been one of the Briton’s lucky tracks since it made its debut in the 2012 Formula 1 calendar.  

Hamilton has won five of the six races at COTA –including the last four- with the exception of the 2013 GP when Vettel was the winner. As if that wasn’t enough, it was here in Austin where Hamilton won his third World Championship in 2015.  

How can Hamilton become World Champion in Austin? 

The way things are, everything seems to be going in favour of the Briton in the Grand Prix of the United States. There are however two possible scenarios in which Hamilton would NOT get his title: If Sebastian Vettel wins or finishes second. If any of those happen, the Briton would have to wait for the MexicanGP to try his luck again.  

Hamilton, on the other hand, would become world champion in any of the following scenarios:  

1. He wins and Vettel finishes 3rd or worse. 

2. He finishes 2nd and Vettel finishes 5th or worse. 

3. He finishes 3rd and Vettel finishes 7th or worse. 

4. He finishes 4th and Vettel finishes 8th or worse. 

5. He finishes 5th and Vettel finishes 9th or worse. 

6. He finishes 6th and Vettel finishes 11th or worse. 

If Hamilton finishes seventh or worse in the Grand Prix of the United States, he would not be able to become champion just yet. Looking at the range of outcomes above, perhaps the most straightforward way to get the title would be a 1-2 for Mercedes with Lewis at the top of the podium and team-mate Valtteri Bottas -or other driver- in the second position.  

Such was the outcome in the last two races in Japan and Russia and in four occasions in total throughout the season. It seems once more that everything points out to Hamilton’s success in Austin.  

In any case, we will have to wait until Sunday to see what happens in the Grand Prix of the United States, and we will be here to tell you all about it.  

Emulating Schumacher’s 7 titles 

There is no denying that the British driver, with his fourth World Titles, 71 victories, 80 pole positions, 131 podiums and 40 fastest laps, is already one of the greatest in F1 history.  

Main image: Tommy Hilfiger.