Explained: What does Max Verstappen need to become F1 2024 champion in Las Vegas?

Max Verstappen has the first match point to become a four-time World Champion at the next race in Las Vegas. The Red Bull driver, with two rounds to go in the 2024 F1 season after the race in Nevada, can clinch another title after an up-and-down battle against Lando Norris.

So, what does Verstappen need to be champion in Las Vegas? And what does Norris need to stay in the title race and remain a contender in Qatar?

Explained: The F1 title permutations in play at the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Those are undoubtedly the big questions ahead of the next race and at PlanetF1.com we wanted to clearly explain what all the possible permutations are for Verstappen to become champion and also what Norris needs to do to stay alive in the fight.

What does Verstappen need to become champion in Las Vegas?

As Norris can no longer mathematically get more wins than Verstappen for the remainder of this F1 2024 season, Max just needs to arrive in Qatar with the same amount of points that would be at stake in the World Championship after Las Vegas, which are 60 points. 

Right now the difference to Norris is 62, so Verstappen just needs to outscore Norris by at least two points in Las Vegas to be world champion for the fourth time in his career.

And for this, we are going to assume three different scenarios in the race: Verstappen sets the fastest lap, Norris sets the fastest lap or neither of them gets the fastest lap. 

In this way, we make it easy for you to consult the following graphs live during the race without having to do mental calculations and lose focus on what is happening on track!

If Lando Norris sets the fastest lap:

If Verstappen sets the fastest lap:

If neither Verstappen nor Norris set the fastest lap:

More on what is coming up next in Formula 1

? F1 schedule: All the key information and session times for the Las Vegas Grand Prix

? Calculated: The F1 2024 Drivers’ Championship without Max Verstappen

What does Norris need to stay alive in the Championship?

If we said before that Verstappen only needs to equal the 60-point gap to Norris with the remaining points in the World Championship after Las Vegas, then Norris needs to at least reach the next race with a 59-point gap. In other words, outscore Max by at least three points.

To evaluate this, let’s again assume the same three scenarios as above: Verstappen does the fastest lap, Norris does the fastest lap or neither of them does the fastest lap.

If Lando Norris sets the fastest lap:

If Verstappen sets the fastest lap:

If neither Verstappen nor Norris set the fastest lap:

Whatever happens, Verstappen is depending on himself to be a four-time World Champion. If the Red Bull driver wins the race or finishes ahead of Norris, he will be crowned champion in Vegas.

But also, if Norris wins he will save this first match point. So the McLaren driver also depends on himself to stay alive in the fight, but only if he manages to win.

Without any doubt, the most favourable scenario for Verstappen is to achieve the fastest lap as this would force Norris to win the race if they both finish on the podium.

And of course, after the race in Brazil, it is only Verstappen and Norris who are contenders for the World Championship. Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri are now mathematically out of the fight.

To continue making your predictions for this next race, we encourage you to use our calculator we have developed at PlanetF1.com to see how the World Championship will look before the Qatar GP after introducing the positions for both drivers in Las Vegas.

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