Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso is the only one of the five title contenders who could - in theory - wrap up the 2010 drivers’ championship in Brazil this weekend. But what must happen for the Spaniard to achieve that?
The answer: he must finish on the podium for starters, and then it depends on where Red Bull’s Mark Webber finishes. Alonso’s three title-winning combinations are…
1. Alonso wins, Webber fifth or lower
2. Alonso second, Webber eighth or lower
3. Alonso third, Webber tenth or lower
As for Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, the permutations that would allow them to stay in the hunt heading to Abu Dhabi are almost endless.
Suffice to say they must heavily outscore Alonso and Webber in Brazil, with Button needing a near miracle to avoid surrendering his crown at Interlagos, the very circuit at which he secured it last year.
In the constructors' stakes, Red Bull need to outscore McLaren by 16 points this weekend to prevent a title decider at the Yas Marina season finale.