Formula 1: McLaren could lose one championship threat in Brazil

As a seasoned F1 gaming enthusiast with memories of the golden era of Schumacher and Hamilton still vividly etched in my mind, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgic anticipation as we approach the final leg of the 2024 season. The battle for the constructor championship is heating up, and it seems the stakes have never been higher.

Four Formula One teams remain theoretically capable of claiming the 2024 World Constructors Championship; however, the leading three teams have established a clear gap over the fourth-placed team in the rankings.

McLaren currently has a significant advantage over Ferrari, leading by 29 points. Red Bull follows closely behind, 25 points further back. Despite this, Mercedes, in fourth place, technically still have a chance to win their first championship since 2021, but they find themselves 200 points behind McLaren.

206 points remain undecided per team across the final four race weekends of the extraordinary 24-race 2024 season, waiting to be claimed.

Mercedes facing elimination in Brazil

As a gamer, I’ve learned that in a Grand Prix, my team can potentially rack up a maximum of 44 points. We score a whopping 25 points if we manage to cross the finish line first, 18 points if we land the second spot, and an additional point for claiming the fastest lap time. On the other hand, in a sprint race, our team can earn up to 15 points. If we win, we pocket eight points, and if we come in second, we get seven points.

Apart from the four Grand Prix events scheduled for Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, there are still two Sprint races left on the schedule, taking place in Brazil and Qatar.

After completing this weekend’s 24-lap dash race and 71-lap event at the 15-turn, 2.677-mile (4.308-kilometer) Interlagos road course in Sao Paulo, Brazil, only 147 points remain available for contest this season.

To have a chance of overtaking McLaren in the standings this weekend, Mercedes must earn at least 53 points more than McLaren and also reduce their deficit to Ferrari by at least 24 points. They should also aim not to lose ground to Red Bull, but scoring 53 points will ensure they maintain their current position or improve it.

McLaren cannot prevent Ferrari or Red Bull from winning in Brazil, but they could secure their first world championship title since 1998 in Las Vegas if the sprint and Grand Prix results go their way.

At FanDuel Sportsbook, McLaren are given odds of 2.6:1 to win the world championship, with Ferrari following closely behind at odds of 3:1. Red Bull are considered a significant underdog with odds of 50:1, while Mercedes are seen as an even more unlikely winner with odds of 500:1.

Odds and availability are subject to change.

All activities from Interlagos Circuit, such as the sprint race on Saturday at 9:55 a.m. ET and the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday at 11:55 a.m. ET, will be broadcast live on ESPN. If you haven’t had the opportunity yet, sign up for a free trial of FuboTV now to catch all the action!

2024-10-31 13:32