-
Max Verstappen crowned world champion in chaotic circumstances at Japanese Grand Prix.
-
Verstappen seals second world title amid confusion after Suzuka win.
After winning the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday with a convincing performance, Belgian-Dutch racing driver Max Emilian Verstappen was crowned Formula One world champion in bizarre circumstances.
It had been a chaotic race, stalled by rain and then restarted, with confusion reigning over whether Verstappen had successfully defended his title.
For much of the race, it seemed as if the Red Bull driver would be forced to wait until the next grand prix in Austin to secure the drivers’ title for the second time in his career as the race was red-flagged due to rain.
After the race restarted, it was much shorter and appeared to have fewer points available. However, Verstappen’s rival Charles Leclerc appeared to be mathematically still in the title race because he finished second.
Verstappen finished the race and ended his first post-race interview by congratulating himself on his victory, which was his 12th of the year.
Leclerc’s title challenge was ended by a five-second time penalty after the race because he had cut the final corner while being pushed by Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez.
“Have I or have I not? I am hearing different things,” Verstappen said after he was initially crowned world champion during a second post-race interview.
It was confirmed again, and he sat down in front of a ‘World Champion’ banner in a throne room.
“I feel a bit lonely,” he said.
RELATED:
- Rio Ferdinand applauds one Man United star after 2-1 win at Everton
- Ten Hag reacts to Ronaldo on reaching 700th goal mark at Everton
- Check Out The Breakdown Of Cristiano Ronaldo’s 700 Club Career Goals
Still, the Red Bull driver was not entirely certain of his new status as a two-time world champion, even after the podium celebrations to mark his race victory, as the regulations stipulating the awarding of points in the rain caused confusion.
“Am I the world champion?” Verstappen asked Jensen Button before his interview on the podium.
According to the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, full points, rather than staggered points, could be awarded since the race was resumed after a rain delay, giving Verstappen a 113-point lead in the world championship with only 112 left to win on the track.
The rain fell all afternoon in Suzuka, and spray streamed out the back of the cars when they started for the first time.
Out front, Leclerc challenged Verstappen for pole into the first corner but the defending world champion held his line around the outside to remain in the lead.
Behind them, Ferrari’s Sainz aquaplaned off the road, into the advertising boarding and out of the race, while Williams’ Alex Albon suffered a gearbox failure and was also forced to retire.
Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly picked up debris from Sainz’s crash recovery truck and pitted for a new front wing.
Catching up with the field, he drove past a recovery truck on the track, evoking memories of Jules Bianchi who died after his car hit a recovery truck on this track eight years ago, and prompting anger from drivers and teams alike.
“No respect for the Life of the driver no respect for Jules memory incredible (sic),” Bianchi’s father Philippe said on Instagram.
Gasly later received a 20-second penalty and two penalty points for speeding under red flag conditions. In a statement, the FIA said it had launched a “thorough review of the events.”
Shortly afterwards, the race was stopped and an almost two-hour delay followed, waiting for the conditions to become safer amid pouring rain.
When the race restarted behind a safety car to help clear the track of water, the sky was still overcast and each car trailed a plume of spray behind it.
Several drivers pitted soon after the restart, swapping wet tires for intermediate tires.
Verstappen was among them and once out of the pits, he weaved his way through the field with ease to take the lead again, opening up a four-second lead over Leclerc, who initially looked comfortable in the second, eight seconds ahead of Perez.
Verstappen’s advantage only widened, reaching first 10 and then 15 seconds over Leclerc, whose attention turned to the car behind as Perez moved within striking distance of the Ferrari towards the end of the race.
On the final corner, Leclerc eventually yielded to Perez’s pressure and locked up on the final chicane of the race, cutting the corner and picking up a five-second penalty that demoted him to third.
Twenty-seven seconds up the road, Verstappen cruised to victory, further confirming his dominance in a season during which he has won 12 of the 18 races.
He only needs one more victory from the remaining four more races to equal the record for most Grand Prix victories won in a single season – currently held by Michael Schumacher in 2004 and Sebastian Vettel in 2013.
