Lewis Hamilton can win fifth F1 world title at United States GP

Lewis Hamilton has his first chance to clinch his fifth F1 world title at the United States GP on Sunday.

Hamilton leads Sebastian Vettel by 67 points in the Drivers' Championship and needs to be 75 ahead by the end of the Austin race to wrap up the 2018 title with three races to spare.

United States GP on Sky: Full schedule

That means Hamilton needs to outscore Vettel by eight points in Sunday's race to become champion for a fifth time.

If Hamilton, who will start the race on pole position, wins and Vettel is third or lower, the Mercedes driver is world champion.

The United States GP is live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky One on Sunday. The race starts at 7.10pm, with build-up from 5.30pm.

How Hamilton can clinch title at US GP

• If Hamilton wins and Vettel is third or lower

• If Hamilton finishes second and Vettel is fifth or lower

• If Hamilton finishes third and Vettel is seventh or lower

• If Hamilton finishes fourth and Vettel is eighth or lower

• If Hamilton finishes fifth and Vettel is ninth or lower

• If Hamilton finishes sixth and Vettel is 11th or lower

If Hamilton finishes seventh or lower the title race goes on to the Mexican GP on October 28

Hamilton is already guaranteed to emerge ahead in any tie-break situation were he and Vettel to finish level on points at the end of the season.

Although Vettel can still match Hamilton's tally of nine race wins this year by winning the season's final four rounds (he currently has five victories), the Mercedes driver would still have at least one more second-place finish to his name (currently three to two).

Hamilton's peerless Austin record

Texas' Circuit of the Americas was the scene of Hamilton's coronation when he beat Nico Rosberg to the 2015 world title, his third, and the Englishman will undoubtedly start as favourite to at least win the showpiece race.

Already the form man in F1 2018 with six wins in the last seven events, Hamilton is the most successful driver in the history of the US GP with six victories, with the last four coming in succession.

A fifth in a row on Sunday would not only increase Hamilton's title-clinching chances but also tie a record set by his hero Ayrton Senna for winning the same grand prix for five years in succession.

Senna went unbeaten at Monaco from 1989 to 1993.

Since the Austin venue joined the calendar as the new home of the US GP in 2012, Vettel in 2013 is the only other driver than Hamilton to win there.

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Sky F1's United States GP schedule

Sunday, October 21
5.30pm: Pit Lane LIVE! (Simulcast on Sky One)
6.30pm: On The Grid LIVE! (Simulcast on Sky One and Main Event)
7.10pm: THE UNITED STATES GP LIVE! (Simulcast on Sky One and Main Event)
9.30pm: Paddock Live

Sky Sports F1 is the only place to watch every Formula 1 Grand Prix, qualifying and practice session live in 2018. Get Sky Sports F1.