Despite coming home to only his second Mexican Grand Prix victory, Lewis Hamilton was made to wait to wrap up his sixth world championship.
That's because Valtteri Bottas finished on the podium, with Hamilton needing his team-mate to finish fourth or lower in order for him to clinch a third straight title success.
But with just three races left of the Formula One season, it looks almost inevitable that the 34-year-old will get over the finish line in Austin.
Mercedes have already been confirmed as constructors' holders for a record sixth successive year. That hardly came as a surprise, given the German team won the opening eight races of the season before Max Verstappen's triumph for Red Bull in Austria.
Now, the only matter that needs to be resolved is who will win the drivers' championship - and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is guaranteed to be celebrating no matter what.
Here's what he needs to get over the finish line..
What Hamilton needs to win the Championship
Hamilton can win his sixth world championship title at the United States Grand Prix in Austin tonight.
After securing his 10th win of the season in Mexico, Hamilton is now 74 points ahead of his title rival with just three races left.
With only 78 points maximum left to play for, the Briton will be crowned world champion if he wins in Austin.
Hamilton only needs to finish eighth to guarantee first in the overall drivers' standings - regardless of what result Bottas achieves.
But such is the extent of his lead over Bottas, Hamilton can also DNF in the final three races and still win the title if Bottas doesn't win in Austin.
If Bottas wins in Austin...
It would certainly make things interesting, but Bottas needs a miracle from here after his podium finish in Mexico.
He would need to win in Texas, get the fastest lap and hope Hamilton crashes out, suffers from a technical failure or finishes outside the points in order to take it to the final two races for sure.
Even if Bottas takes the chequered flag, Hamilton can finish second or third and still take the title to spoil the Finn's celebrations.
Given he has won five out of seven races at the circuit, that seems a likely outcome.
