Mercedes has its first opportunity to equal Ferrari’s record of six straight Constructors’ Championship, depending on the outcome of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Mercedes has been unbeaten in Formula 1’s hybrid era and currently holds a 161-point advantage in the battle between the teams.
It is possible for a team to take 44 points from a grand prix weekend, meaning that only 176 are up for grabs following the upcoming event at Suzuka.
Should Mercedes out-score Ferrari by 15 points at the figure-of-eight venue then it will have built up an unassailable advantage in the championship, securing the title for another campaign.
It would mean Mercedes matches Ferrari in taking six straight crowns, with the Italian marque having achieved the feat from 1999 through 2004.
Mercedes has not been beaten at the Japanese Grand Prix in the hybrid era.
It has outscored Ferrari by at least 15 points at nine of this year’s grands prix.
The Drivers’ Championship will remain mathematically open irrespective of the outcome of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
However, should Hamilton retain a 104-point advantage over Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel then it means a Mercedes driver is guaranteed the title for a sixth straight year.
Hamilton was Drivers' champion for Mercedes in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018, while Nico Rosberg claimed the 2016 crown before retiring.
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