Red Bull can today become the earliest F1 constructors' champion ever
If it doesn't work out this weekend, the team will have another chance next week
The most telling example of Red Bull's dominance so far is that Verstappen does not need his teammate Pérez for victory in the constructors' championship. In fact, the team is doing so well that Red Bull Racing became constructors' champion in Singapore today. Or should we say went? Verstappen and Pérez have to start outside the top ten today.
If Red Bull magically wins the F1 team championship this weekend, that will be a record. Never before has a team won more than five races before the end of the season. The current record is shared by McLaren (1988), Ferrari (2004) and Mercedes (2015). Shouldn't it work this weekend? Then Red Bull still has a chance at the record. After the next race there are still six races to run.
Small side note: the teams just mentioned rode in seasons in which no sprint races were held yet. There was no point for the fastest race lap at that time. Red Bull has therefore had more of a chance to get ahead of the competition. Verstappen and Pérez have collected 37 points so far while Mercedes has only scored 11 during sprint races. Oh, and Red Bull took the fastest race lap in eight of the fourteen races.
How can Red Bull become constructors' champion this weekend?
Verstappen and Pérez have to score a one-two and Mercedes cannot get any points if Red Bull wants to become champion. Will Pérez or Verstappen take the fastest race lap? Then Red Bull will also be constructors' champion if Mercedes scores just one point. Heads up. It is unlikely that it will happen with Russell in P2 and Hamilton in P5, but it could happen this weekend.
Speaking of records for F1 teams: Red Bull can also rake in the most points ever this year, thanks to the sprint races. Verstappen's team can also break the highest average. In 2015, Mercedes scored an average of 37 points per race weekend. Red Bull scores an average of 39 - without counting the points from sprint races. If Verstappen and Pérez maintain that, another record will be destroyed.