F1 | Japan Grand Prix Race Report

Max Verstappen wins F1 title with four races to spare.

Max Verstappen won a chaotic, rain-shortened Japanese Grand Prix to seal his second Formula 1 world championship amid huge confusion. After a race where only 29 of the 53 scheduled laps were completed due to heavy rain at Suzuka, Verstappen was crowned champion after a five-second penalty for Charles Leclerc dropped him to second behind Sergio Perez.

Verstappen’s win gave him a place in the record books as he secured one of F1’s most dominant championship wins. Only Michael Schumacher (2001 and 2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2011) have won a championship with four races still left to run.

Verstappen led the Suzuka race from start to finish but did not realize he had won the championship after taking the checkered flag.

“Yeah, it’s really a crazy feeling of course, because I didn’t expect when I crossed the line," Verstappen said after the race.

SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 09: Race winner and 2022 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 09, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202210090606 // Usage for editorial use only //

There was previously uncertainty over whether full or partial points would be awarded for the race, as most believed only 19 points would be awarded due to less than 75 per cent of the laps being completed. The confusion stemmed from how many points would be awarded in a race that did not complete full distance. But for the Japanese GP there was a different interpretation of the rules, which state that the reduced points are only applied if a race is suspended “and cannot be resumed". F1’s rules state that limited points are awarded when a race is red-flagged and cannot continue. Although the Suzuka race was red-flagged, it continued to a conclusion on track, so full points were awarded.

In the final laps, Verstappen was on his race radio asking Red Bull whether he should put for new tires to go for the extra point available for fastest lap.

“I didn’t know, like, was it going to be half points?" he said. “I didn’t know how many points I was going to get. The gap just wasn’t safe enough for an extra stop."

As it turned out, Verstappen won his title thanks to teammate Sergio Perez being elevated above Charles Leclerc moments after the race. Leclerc ran wide at the final corner defending from Perez, then forced the Mexican driver wide as they raced to the finish line, earning himself a five-second penalty in the process. Verstappen would have been denied the title if Leclerc had come second, but the Ferrari driver’s final-lap error and subsequent penalty created the winning formula in the end.

SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 09: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing and The Netherlands during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 09, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202210090644 // Usage for editorial use only //

“This is crazy!," said Verstappen. “To win here in Japan is really special, I feel really proud that we could do it here. When I crossed the line, I didn’t know that I was World Champion, there was a lot of confusion but I thought it was quite funny. The first Championship was very emotional and this time it feels very different, it feels even more beautiful because of the season we’ve had. The teamwork has been unreal, we kept on pushing, kept on believing and kept on improving the car. As a Team we’ve made very few mistakes, you can’t be perfect but for most of the races we were close to it. Working together with Honda has been incredible and of course a lot of my thanks goes out to the Team here at track, back at the factory and everyone that’s been contributing with the Red Bull Powertrains division. Everyone has been working flat out and has a huge amount of motivation. Checo has been an incredible teammate and now the full focus is on the Constructors Championship. Let’s see what we can do in Austin.”

While Verstappen’s first title was veiled in controversy, depending on how you interpret the rules, after the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, however, his second has looked like inevitable for several months. It was just and matter of when, not if.

Verstappen’s win was his 12th overall of the season; Schumacher and Vettel hold the joint record for most wins in a season at 13. With four races left on the F1’s season in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi, the Verstappen has the chance to break the season wins record.Japanese GP Final Result, Top 10

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
4. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
5. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6. Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
7. Fernando Alonso, Alpine
8. George Russell, Mercedes
9. Nicholas Latifi, Williams
10. Lando Norris, McLaren