How Lewis Hamilton can win his 7th F1 title this weekend – and what Bottas needs to do to stop him

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton can win his record-equalling seventh drivers’ title this weekend at the Turkish Grand Prix. To do so, he needs to leave Istanbul with a greater than 78-point advantage over team mate Valtteri Bottas in the drivers’ standings. We’ve crunched the numbers to bring you all the permutations ahead of this weekend’s action.
Hamilton already heads Bottas – now the only driver who can mathematically stop Hamilton claiming the title – by 85 points, meaning that if Hamilton outscores Bottas this weekend, it’s all over.
FORM GUIDE: Who’s set to score big as the Turkish Grand Prix returns?
However, if Bottas does manage to outscore Hamilton, here are the permutations for Hamilton still claiming a Michael Schumacher-equalling title #7 in Istanbul this weekend.
How Hamilton can win the title
| IF BOTTAS FINISHES | HAMILTON MUST FINISH |
|---|---|
| 1st + fastest lap | Title fight continues to Bahrain |
| 1st | 2nd |
| 2nd + fastest lap | 4th |
| 2nd | 5th + fastest lap OR 4th |
| 3rd + fastest lap | 5th |
| 3rd | 6th |
| 4th + fastest lap | 7th |
| 4th | 8th + fastest lap OR 7th |
| 5th + fastest lap | 8th |
| 5th | 9th + fastest lap OR 8th |
| 6th + fastest lap | 9th |
| 6th | 10th |
| 7th or lower | Hamilton wins title |
Next Up
Related Articles
See all the angles of Cadillac’s 2026 livery
Team Previews 2026All you need to know about Aston Martin
F1 AcademyShi Wei returns as first 2026 Wild Card driver
Cadillac reveal their debut livery for 2026 F1 season
Re-watch Aston Martin's launch event as they reveal 2026 livery
Gasly’s fashion evolution as he turns 30