When can Max Verstappen win the 2022 F1 World Championship?

Unless he and Red Bull have a horror end to the 2022 Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen will turn up to the FIA prize-giving gala in December as a two-time champion.

The Dutchman has taken 10 wins from 15 races this term to enjoy a 109 point over teammate Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari in the standings with seven rounds to go after his home victory in the Dutch Grand Prix.

It is not a question of if for Verstappen, it is when. When will team boss Christian Horner scream down the radio "MAX VERSTAPPEN, YOU ARE THE WORLD CHAMPION, THE WORLD CHAMPION?"

RacingNews365 has had a look at the permutations to see when Verstappen can retain his title.

Despite Mercedes boss Toto Wolff suggesting Verstappen could wrap the title up before F1 leaves Europe - the next race - this is impossible - but only just.

Let's imagine that Verstappen wins the Italian Grand Prix, picking up the fastest lap point, banking 26 points, and that nearest challengers Perez and Leclerc both retire.

This would extend Verstappen's lead to 135 points over Perez - with 164 available across the final six races.

Instead, it is far more likely that Verstappen will be crowned in Japan (three races' time) or in the United States in the next race after that.

From his current total (post- Zandvoort of 201 points, Perez can achieve a maximum of 391 points he takes every one he can and Verstappen blanks for the rest of the season.

391 points - Verstappen's tally of 301 leaves him needing 90 more points to take the title.

The table below shows how many points Verstappen needs to be ahead after each race to claim the title.