Can Verstappen Achieve The F1 Champion Title In Jeddah?

Max Verstappen (Twitter @Max33Verstappen)

JAKARTA - Max Verstappen has a chance to seal the Formula 1 title this weekend as the land jet race heads to Saudi Arabia for the first time.

An eight-point lead separates Verstappen and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in the standings after 20 races running and two races remaining of the season.

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit has a number of scenarios if the Red Bull driver wants to immediately win the world title.

Verstappen has benefited as the leader of the standings even though Hamilton and Mercedes had a stronger car package in the previous two races.

Verstappen will need to score 18 more points than Hamilton in Jeddah to seal the title as he will widen the gap to 26 points heading into the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi, with a maximum of 26 points available, and with more wins this season than the striker British racer.

If Verstappen finishes third or lower in Jeddah, the race for the world title will be decided at Yas Marina one week later.

If Verstappen finishes in the top two, then Hamilton's finishing position will be decisive.

Victory with the fastest lap for Verstappen means Hamilton must finish in the top five to keep his title hopes open, while a win without a single fastest lap point for the Red Bull driver means Hamilton needs to finish in the top six.

If Verstappen finishes runner-up with the fastest lap, Hamilton must score at least two points, or a top nine position, and if Verstappen finishes second without the fastest lap, then he will become world champion if Hamilton fails to score points.

"I know it will be difficult towards the end, but I think it's good, it keeps it interesting," Verstappen told Antara.

In addition to the rivalry between the two drivers, the fierce competition between Mercedes and Red Bull in the race for the constructors' championship is also getting hotter.

After Qatar, Red Bull approached Mercedes who are now five points adrift. For Mercedes to win the constructors' title this week they will need to be 40 points clear of Red Bull, meaning both drivers will have to finish first and third, or better.

"Our car has been performing well of late and probably its best form of the season, with the drivers confident to push the limits," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff on the team's official website.

"It keeps the spirit going into the final races and gives us the momentum to move forward."

Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas has the opportunity to take third place in the standings if he gets 13 points more than Sergio Perez in Jeddah.

As Red Bull and Mercedes have a battle of their own, Ferrari meanwhile is closing in on securing the constructors' third place with a 39.5-point lead over McLaren.

The Italians need to take five more points than McLaren this weekend to secure their place.

New circuit in F1

Located 12 km north of the port and coastal city of the Red Sea, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a whole new track that the whole team will face this weekend.

Unlike the Losail Circuit in Qatar, the Jeddah circuit was built specifically to hold F1.

The track will be the fastest highway circuit on the F1 calendar, as well as the second-longest after Spa-Francorchamps.

With 27 corners, the Corniche Circuit will also be the track with the most bends on this year's calendar.

The car can go with an average speed of 248 kph and a top speed of 320 kph in the night race of the Jeddah highway circuit.

"Jeddah is a whole new challenge, a whole new track to understand... gathering as much information as possible in the early sessions will be vital," said Wolff.