F1 Monday Notebook: Here's When Verstappen Will Clinch Third F1 Championship

Put the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, September 24, on your calendar as a potential championship-clinching race for Max Verstappen.

Verstappen’s victory in the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday put him 138 points clear of teammate and points runner-up Sergio Perez—and the gap is increasing by a double-digit number of points each time the checkered flag is waved.

If Verstappen, who has won an F1 record nine consecutive races, can increase his advantage to 154 points by the time the series leaves Singapore on Sept. 17, then it will give him his first match point a week later in Japan, where a lead of 180 or more points would mathematically give Verstappen his third consecutive title.

Should he wrap it up in Japan, that would be with six races—including U.S. stops in Austin and Las Vegas—left on the schedule.

Red Bull, meanwhile, could secure the Constructors’ Championship in two races’ time in Singapore.

Here's more news and notes from the Dutch GP:

Liam Lawson Will Get more AlphaTauri Starts

Liam Lawson will continue to fill in for injured Daniel Ricciardo until the Australian is deemed fit to drive.

Ricciardo sustained a fractured metacarpal in his left hand in an accident during second practice at Zandvoort on Friday. He had surgery on Sunday in Barcelona with the successful procedure understood to have been carried out by Dr. Xavier Mir, who is renowned for treating injured MotoGP riders.