Max Verstappen is Formula 1 World Champion for the second time. The Dutchman celebrated his twelfth victory in the 18th race of the season in Suzuka yesterday, allowing the 25-year-old to extend his championship lead in the fifth-to-last Grand Prix to an unassailable 113 points.
Verstappen, who crossed the finish line in front of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Red Bull colleague Sergio Perez, did not even know that this was the title defense. The Japanese Grand Prix was too chaotic, with only 28 of the 53 laps being completed due to a two-hour rain stop. “After the first interview, someone from the FIA (world motorsport association; note) came to me and said that I’m world champion. Because Charles got a penalty,” Verstappen said on “ServusTV”. Leclerc was moved behind Perez due to a five-second time penalty for cutting the chicane. “We’ve lost track, but it doesn’t matter, we’re world champions,” added Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko.
The team didn’t notice at first either, “our strategist said there’s still one point missing,” explained Marko. But then Formula 1 surprised with an overlay at the award ceremony. “And as he says up there, world champion, it only became clear to us. A very strange situation, but all the more gratifying.” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was also overjoyed: “Max absolutely deserved it. He drove incredibly, not just today, the entire season was outstanding.”
Title defense in Honda country
Verstappen’s almost perfect season – he has a good chance of breaking the record set by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel (13 each) for most wins this season – had made his title defense only a matter of time. The fact that this happened in the country of Red Bull’s engine supplier Honda made for a coherent picture. The circuit, which opened in 1962, was once commissioned by company founder Soichiro Honda and has now celebrated a comeback on the Formula 1 calendar on his 60th anniversary and after a three-year Corona break.
“I think Red Bull Racing and Honda have created something very special this season,” Verstappen knew who he had to thank. “It’s not always easy in all the hustle and bustle of so many races, but you have to stop and appreciate what this team is doing in 2022. Honestly, another season like this will be difficult,” said the champion with a smile Keep an eye out for next season.
“This is unacceptable”
The return of the “premier class” to Suzuka had a blemish in the form of a recovery vehicle. After Carlos Sainz’s accident on lap one, the car had rushed onto the track too early in poor visibility.
“That’s unacceptable, I can’t believe it,” said AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly on the pit radio. “I could have killed myself.” His good friend Jules Bianchi collided with a recovery vehicle in similar conditions in Suzuka in 2014 and died a few months later. “No respect for the lives of the drivers, no respect for Jules’ memory, unbelievable,” wrote Philippe Bianchi, Jules’ father, on Instagram.
Source: Nachrichten
