The scenarios: How Hamilton can clinch his third world championship at United States Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton could clinch his third world championship this weekend at the United States Grand Prix, a feat which would guarantee him a place among the pantheon of Formula One’s greats.

Only nine of the 32 drivers to have won the world championship in Formula One’s 65-year history have triumphed three or more times.

Hamilton, already the reigning double champion, has mounted a dominant defence of his championship crown, winning a staggering nine of the 15 races so far this year.

As a result, that he will join the likes of boyhood hero Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Niki Lauda and Jackie Stewart, among others, on the roll call of greats this season seems inevitable. And it could happen as soon as this Sunday.

Hamilton currently leads the championship standings on 302 points, 66 ahead of Sebastian Vettel and 73 ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg. With just three races to go and a maximum of 75 points up for grabs following this weekend’s race, all Hamilton needs to do is score nine more points than Vettel and two more than Rosberg on Sunday to leave Austin a triple world champion.

Here, we look at the different scenarios that could play out and what needs to happen for Hamilton to win the title on Sunday.

Firstly, points in Formula One are handed out all the way down to 10th place, with the winner bagging 25 and the tenth-place finisher the final sole point on offer, according to the following sliding scale:

1st place – 25 points 2nd place – 18 points 3rd place – 15 points 4th place – 12 points 5th place – 10 points 6th place – 8 points 7th place – 6 points 8th place – 4 points 9th place – 2 points 10th place – 1 point

Therefore, the title will be wrapped up this weekend if: - Hamilton wins and Vettel finishes 3rd or lower - Hamilton finishes 2nd and Vettel finishes 6th or lower and Rosberg is 3rd or lower - Hamilton finishes 3rd and Vettel finishes 7th or lower and Rosberg is 4th or lower - Hamilton finishes 4th and Vettel finishes 9th or lower and Rosberg is 5th or lower - Hamilton finishes 5th and Vettel finishes 10th or lower and Rosberg 6th or lower

If Hamilton finishes outside the top-5 the championship stays alive, albeit only mathematically, until the next race even if Vettel fails to score any points.

With Sebastian Vettel set to take a 10-place grid penalty for fitting a new engine to his Ferrari, Hamilton’s prospects of wrapping up the title this weekend have already received a major boost.

He is the most successful driver around the 5.5 kilometer-long Circuit of the Americas, having won two of the three races held at the track and, given the rich vein of form he seems to have tapped into this year, he heads into Sunday’s race as very much the man to beat.

Hamilton may be playing it cautious, saying he isn’t thinking about the title just yet. But, come Sunday, we could well see a new name added to the list of the sport’s greats.