F1 Title Permutations: What does Lando Norris need to win the Drivers' Championship?

A commanding victory at the Singapore Grand Prix for Lando Norris has added further fuel to a fascinating Formula 1 title fight with Max Verstappen.

Following a domineering start to the campaign, three-time world champion Verstappen is anxiously looking over his shoulder as the once seemingly imperious RB20 is usurped by Red Bull's rivals.

McLaren have now overhauled Red Bull at the top of the Constructors' Championship and their remarkable improvement has thrust Norris into title contention, with the Briton sealing his first career win in Miami before adding two more triumphs in Zandvoort and Singapore.

We're set for an epic duel for the Drivers' Championship and Norris has shortened into 11/8 to prevail, while Verstappen remains the favourite at 4/7.

We've looked at the permutations and what Norris must achieve in the remainder of the season if he is to secure a maiden world title.

How many points is Lando Norris behind Max Verstappen?

Norris is currently 52 points behind Verstappen with six Grand Prix remaining, which includes three sprint races.

Verstappen's advantage over the Briton was 84 points following the British Grand Prix but Norris has slowly chiseled away at the deficit, finishing ahead of his title rival in five of the last six races.

Which races remain on the 2024 F1 calendar?

The next four races are staged in North America and South America before moving across to the Middle East where Formula 1 will visit Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Of the remaining six races, there are three sprint races, which presents more opportunities for Norris to make ground on Verstappen.

• United States GP: 18-20 October (includes sprint race)
• Mexican GP: 25-27 October
• Brazilian GP: 1-3 November (includes sprint race)
• Las Vegas GP: 22-24 November
• Qatar GP: 29 November - 1 December (includes sprint race)
• Abu Dhabi GP: 6-8 December

How many points are still available?

A maximum of 180 points is on offer between now and the end of the season, meaning it's still all to play for in the Drivers' Championship.

Of those 180, 156 is available from the races, which includes the bonus point awarded to the driver who sets the fastest lap of the race. A total of 24 points is on offer from the three sprints.

Will Lando Norris win the Drivers' Championship if he wins every race?

Even if Norris wins every remaining race and sprint race, it may not be enough to overhaul Verstappen at the top of the standings.

Verstappen could finish behind Norris in second in every race and sprint and that would still be enough to secure the Dutchman's fourth world championship.

The gap between first and second in a race is seven points, while the difference in points awarded to first and second in a sprint is one point.

Multiplying seven points with the six remaining races equals 42 points. Multiplying one point with the three remaining sprints equals three points. Add them together, and Norris is still seven points shy of Verstappen.

That doesn't factor in the bonus point awarded to the driver who records the fastest lap. However, even if Norris was to set the fastest lap in each remaining race in addition to taking the chequered flag, he would still finish one point short of his title rival, Verstappen.

	Lando Norris	Max Verstappen
United States Grand Prix Sprint	1st (8 points)	2nd (7 points)
United States Grand Prix	1st* (26 points)	2nd (18 points)
Mexican Grand Prix	1st* (26 points)	2nd (18 points)
Brazilian Grand Prix Sprint	1st (8 points)	2nd (7 points)
Brazilian Grand Prix	1st* (26 points)	2nd (18 points)
Las Vegas Grand Prix	1st* (26 points)	2nd (18 points)
Qatar Grand Prix Sprint	1st (8 points)	2nd (7 points)
Qatar Grand Prix	1st* (26 points)	2nd (18 points)
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix	1st* (26 points)	2nd (18 points)
Total Points:	459	460

*Bonus point added for fastest lap

Yet if Norris was to achieve the unthinkable by collecting maximum points in the remaining six races and Verstappen was to finish below second in any of the races, the McLaren driver would win the Drivers' Championship.

The margins are so tight that a bonus point on offer for the fastest lap could be the different between euphoric delight and agonising failure.

In what has been a splendidly unpredictable F1 season, this title fight is going to be far from straightforward and a potential DNF for either driver will have huge implications on the standings come December.

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