Lewis Hamilton is sitting comfortably in the driving seat to become this year’s F1 world champion with three grand prix left to go.
Hamilton has dominated this year’s racing as he has as champion in 2017 and 2018.
Barring a disaster, if he crosses the finishing line in the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on November 3, he will lift the trophy.
Only Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas stands the slimmest of chances of catching Hamilton.
Bottas must win the last three races this season with Hamilton coming 11th or lower in each race to overtake his rival team mate.
If Hamilton takes two points from his remaining drives, he is crowned world champion.
Sixth world title almost clinched
Hamilton and Bottas take the top two driver rankings, with Hamilton soaring away on 363 points and Bottas with 289.
Charles LeClerc, who has come of age as a racing driver this season sits third with 236 points and Sebastian Vettel follows on 230 points.
Hamilton virtually clinched the title by winning the Mexico Grand Prix in 1:36:48:904, 1.766 seconds ahead of Vettel and 3.553 ahead of Bottas in third place. It was Hamilton’s 10th win of the season.
Taking a sixth world championship puts Hamilton second in the F1 hall of fame behind the legendary German Michael Schumacher, who won seven titles. Hamilton currently shares second place on five championships with the great Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio.
Frenchman Alain Prost and German Vettel are next with four wins under their belts.
Challenging Schumacher legacy
The signs are on this season’s showing that Hamilton, 34, has enough good years ahead of him to challenge Schumacher’s legacy.
Speaking after the Mexico race, Hamilton said: “”We came here thinking we were on the back foot but we pulled through, I had quite a bit of damage on the car so the race was quite a struggle but I kept my head down. It felt like a long second stint but I am so grateful today.
“I don’t mind not clinching the title yet. I love racing and just take it one race at a time. This is a race I have wanted to win for some time and it has always been a bit tricky for us. everything held together and the team did the best strategy, holding off the Ferraris was not easy in the end.”