How do Ferrari and Mercedes stand in the remaining 6 races?

The title fight, instead of standing on the knife's edge, rests clearly in favour of Lewis Hamilton, who now seems firmly in control of gaining a fifth world title.

At this point in time, it is all about Mercedes and their super machinery, that despite not being as pacy as Ferrari has left nothing to the imagination in rocking the world of the German Sebastian Vettel.

Where it stands at present, Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel trails Mercedes championship contender Lewis Hamilton by a margin of 40 points.

When you have six races left in the season, you'd rather take a gap of 5-10 points and not more. 40, at the moment, seems a mountain to climb even if you are four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel.

Isn't it?

And where paddock rumours stand, then given Kimi's already secured his future, driving for Sauber in the next season, he may not give a darn about 'team orders' anymore. As it is, this year, as seen in events such as the German Grand Prix, they've hardly helped his teammate, Vettel. Have they?

But if you are Lewis Hamilton, you are surely enjoying this, having perhaps whiffed a chance that, in all certainty, will culminate in a fifth driver's title. Especially given the way the Mercedes ace triumphed at Monza and Singapore, having lost out to a flying Sebastian Vettel at Spa-Francorchamps, one doesn't see a lot of life left in this championship.

But, then, let's not forget. The only thing that's certain in the world of F1 is uncertainty. It could be anyone's crown.

Here's what you need to remember as a fan.

With 6 races to go, should Vettel win every single Grand Prix- for there's no other way now for him to progress for his title hopes- he'll collect 391 points. Should Hamilton finish second from these races, he'll gather 389 points. But for that to happen- since all of that is ideally a Ferrari-fan conjecture- one will have to see what transpires in the remainder of the season.

Let's see who has performed better between Ferrari and Mercedes in each of the remaining Grands Prix:

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Russian Grand Prix

F1 Grand Prix of Russia

Can the Prancing horse triumph raise a red-letter day in the iron-curtain in Putin-land?

This will be the question that will figure in Sebastian Vettel's mind. Well, truth be told, there's a lot that he'd have to do if he's to reverse the order of things here at Sochi in the coming racing weekend.

Ferrari hasn't won a single Grand Prix at Sochi where their recent form stands.

If one were to rewind back to the past, then one would find that Mercedes have won on every single occasion in the past four Grands Prix.

In fact, as teammates, Raikkonen has landed on the podium more frequently than Sebastian, who last secured a podium at Sochi in the form of a P3 in 2015. But then both were on the podium last year in a contest aced by Bottas, who's yet to win this year.

That said, while Bottas won the 2017 race, Hamilton's aced the Russian contest in 2014 and 2015 runs.

Japanese Grand Prix

Hamilton's form in Japan has been dismissive of Vettel's run

In the land of the Samurais, what can Ferrari possibly do to stop the charge of Lewis Hamilton?

Where the 2017 Japanese Grand Prix is concerned, then the contest was eclipsed by Hamilton, who was also the winner at Suzuka in the 2014 and 2015 runs.

Vettel, who stands tied with Lewis at Suzuka- both drivers winning the contest on 4 separate occasions, hasn't yet won a race with Ferrari in the land of the rising sun.

In fact, Ferrari's last win at Japan came way back in 2004. Time to reshape the record then, Seb?

Mexican Grand Prix

F1 Grand Prix of Mexico, where Vettel will hope to be on top

An opening lap skirmish last year around the chicane thwarted Vettel's chances of a win, despite the Ferrari looking in a strong position at Mexico.

Last year around, it was the reign of the Red Bull of Max Verstappen, the flying Dutchman clinching a feisty battle marked by excellent overtaking and a furious contest as seen by the likes of Alonso and Hamilton in the closing stages.

At Mexico, the podium featured each of the top teams currently running in strong positions in the Constructor's fight with Bottas finishing behind Max but ahead of Kimi.

Vettel, surprisingly hasn't featured once on the podium in the past 3 instalments of the Mexican Grand Prix- such a shame, isn't it?

In 2016, Hamilton won ahead of Rosberg and Ricciardo and in 2015, Rosberg finished ahead of Hamilton to win the contest.

Ferrari need to up their game this time around- else, we are seeing a lost cause.

United States Grand Prix

Can Vettel drink the champagne that so often has belonged to Lewis?

To be fair to Sebastian Vettel's might, the US Grand Prix has clearly been his archrival's territory.

This is a race that quite like the Grand Prix at Silverstone and Montreal seems to favour Lewis Hamilton's irrepressible form.

For starters, Ferrari holds a dubious record at Austin, Texas where they haven't won since 2006.

Vettel is yet to wag his famous finger from the top of the podium at a track where Hamilton has reigned supreme on four back-to-back occasions, starting 2014.

Brazilian Grand Prix

Vettel won at Interlagos in 2017

The Brazilian Grand Prix should be an exciting event for Sebastian Vettel since it was here last year that he collected one of his best race wins ever.

But out here in Senna-land, Vettel would be well-advised to enter the competition, at least at the back of a hat-trick of wins to further extend his chances of securing that elusive fifth title.

But back in 2016, it was a Hamilton show, as he occupied the top step of the podium in a rain-affected contest made supreme and thrilling by the feat of a young and daring Max Verstappen, who clinched arguably his best podium, thus far, in the form of a P3.

In 2014 and 2015, Nico Rosberg was a repeat winner at the Interlagos.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Vettel hasn't won at Abu Dhabi in a Ferrari yet

One wonders whether Sebastian Vettel can enter this race, having collected all needed points in order to utter the following to his team on the radio, "Leave me alone, now am in control of things."

At a track where Vettel gained a furious P3 in 2017 and where he's yet to win in his Ferrari stint, Hamilton's finished on the podium every single time since 2014.

Mercedes driver Bottas was the winner the last time around in 2017 before Hamilton leapt the rest to a comprehensive but widely-debated win in 2016.

Seb has secured two consecutive P3 finishes here at the dazzling night race in the oil-rich emirate. So can he reverse the tide and spring past the checkered flag bagging a win in the season-ending race?