What began as a close battle between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc for this year’s world championship has turned into nothing less than a rout by the Red Bull driver.
Verstappen is now so far ahead he could clinch the championship at the next round in Singapore, with five races still to go. And while collecting his second title Verstappen also has a strong chance of surpassing a few notable F1 records.
It’s a far cry from the situation last year, when the title fight went down to the final race of the season. Instead of wondering who might take the title, as the last rounds of 2022 approach the question is just how crushing will Verstappen’s inevitable victory be?
Most points
*Did not win championship
In order to break the record for the most points ever scored by a driver in a single season, Verstappen needs to take slightly more than half of the available points over the final six rounds. That is certainly within his grasp: He’s scored 127 out of a possible 130 points over the last five races, missing only a few fastest lap bonus points.
The record for most points scored in a season is currently held by Lewis Hamilton. He racked up 413 points over a 21-race season in 2019, which is one round fewer than this year. Verstappen also has the advantage of three sprint races to score more points at and he’s already claimed the maximum points for the two held so far, with one more to follow in Brazil.
But the 2023 F1 calendar looks likely to contain 24 races and the series is looking to add three more sprint events, meaning even more points will be on offer next year. Verstappen might not be able to crack the 500 barrier this season – a perfect run over the final half-dozen rounds would see him finish on 499 – but that target is surely not far off.
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Biggest winning margin
Over the first six decades the value of a win rose from eight points to nine and finally 10. Then in 2010 it shot up to 25, meaning far bigger points hauls and winning margins became possible.
Sebastian Vettel achieved the most emphatic title win in terms of raw points in 2013, a season which had much in common with this one. It got off to a competitive start: Vettel was one of four drivers to win in the first six races. But after the summer break Red Bull dominated and Vettel was never beaten.
During that time Vettel extended…
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