Mercedes can win team title in Malaysia

Mercedes could wrap up the constructors’ world championship this weekend in Malaysia, with five clear races then to follow.

The mathematical match-point has come early because the utterly dominant German team has a huge 222 point gap over second-placed Red Bull.

When asked how Mercedes managed to get so far ahead with a full 30 per cent of the season still to go, technical boss Paddy Lowe answered: "We have built a car that works well no matter the circuit.

"In that way, it is not only power that matters, but power and efficiency," he told the German newspaper Bild.

The drivers’ championship, however, is a different matter entirely, with Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton separated by a mere 8 points.

When asked what will happen, Lowe answered: "It is impossible to predict. I really don’t know."