Max Verstappen led Red Bull to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, marking his second year in a row as the Formula One world champion. The title race ended decisively after a late penalty was issued to Charles Leclerc of Ferrari. The podium was rounded out by Sergio Perez in second and Leclerc in third, following a race that had been stalled for two hours because of rainfall.
Max Verstappen claimed victory in the Japanese Grand Prix for Red Bull and secured his second straight Formula One world championship on Sunday. Verstappen earned the 2022 F1 world title after a dramatic late penalty for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc put the championship beyond doubt. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez stood second on the podium while Charles Leclerc secured third place. The Japanese Grand Prix race was delayed for two hours due to rain.
Despite the race ending after just 28 laps, the distance was sufficient for Verstappen to receive full championship points. The title was ultimately decided by a twist in the closing moments: Leclerc finished second on the track, but a five-second penalty for a corner-cutting infraction shifted the points in Verstappen's favor. With the championship now officially locked in, Verstappen heads into the U.S. Grand Prix and the remaining four events with an insurmountable advantage over his rivals, Perez and Leclerc.
Esteban Ocon claimed fourth place for Alpine after a tough battle defending his position against Lewis Hamilton, who finished fifth for Mercedes. Sebastian Vettel, recovering from a first-lap incident with Fernando Alonso, secured sixth place in what was his final race at the Suzuka circuit.
The 25-year-old Verstappen's championship win caps off a nearly flawless season, where he claimed 12 victories out of 18 races, including six of the most recent seven. The Dutchman is now within striking distance of the single-season win record of 13, held by Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013). With the title already in the bag, breaking this record is a very realistic goal for him.
Verstappen joins an elite group as only the third driver to wrap up the title with at least four races left on the calendar. He follows in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher, who clinched it with six races to spare in 2002, and Nigel Mansell, who did so with five left in 1992. Sebastian Vettel also achieved this feat with four races remaining at the 2011 Japanese GP.
Reflecting on his second world title, Verstappen described the feeling of lifting the trophy once again as 'crazy.' He expressed confidence in his ability to remain a dominant force in Formula One for the foreseeable future, provided he and his team continue to produce a competitive car.