Lewis Hamilton will become the sixth driver in F1 history to wrap up the drivers' title with three or more races remaining if he secures the crown at the United States Grand Prix.
The race in Texas is the 16th of 19 in 2015 and confirmation of Hamilton's title retention would equal the feat of Sebastian Vettel from the final year of F1's V8-era.
Fellow British drivers Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark have also wrapped up the F1 title with three races to go. Stewart took the championship at round eight of 11 in 1969 and 1971, while Clark was the first to secure the crown that early at round seven of 10 in 1963.
The drivers' championship has been won with four races to spare on three occasions - by Michael Schumacher in 2001 after 13 of 17 races, in 2004 after 14 of 18 races and by Vettel in 2011 after 15 of 19 races.
Nigel Mansell secured the 1992 title after 11 races. With five races still remaining, Mansell's feat was a record at the time but has since been surpassed by by Schumacher in 2002 when the German was crowned champion in July's French GP with six races to spare.