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F1: Max Verstappen is crowned champion after winning the Japanese GP

Published on Oct 10, 2022 at 10:58 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis

Last updated on Oct 10, 2022 at 10:58 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

Max Verstappen has been crowned F1 champion for the second year in a row after winning the Japanese GP.

The Dutchman won his 12th race of the season amid the usual Race Control chaos.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen across the line at the Japanese GP
Image: Red Bull Content Pool

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There was a lot of confusion because the race was halted for nearly two hours due to heavy rain.

The rules dictate that the FIA, the governing body of F1, is allowed to award reduced points for a race that runs half distance or less.

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But Race Control ended up awarding full points, which is why both Red Bull boss Christian Horner and Verstappen himself were left flabbergasted.

Verstappen took a second longer than expected to celebrate because he wasn’t sure he’d be given the 25 points he needed to seal the title.

Meanwhile, Horner was quoted saying he was “certain” the rules would be “revised over the winter”.

Mind you, this wouldn’t have made much of a difference because Red Bull dominated the season.

Red Bull won 14 out of 18 GPs this year – 12 wins for Verstappen and two for his teammate Sergio Pérez.

Ferrari at the Japanese Grand Prix
Image: Scuderia Ferrari Press Office

Elsewhere, Ferrari were left frustrated after Leclerc was penalised for cutting the chicane on the final lap.

This cost Charles Leclerc his second place and ultimately gave Red Bull the Championship win.

Ferrari has won four GPs this year, including two out of the first three races and back-to-back wins at Silverstone and in Austria.

Having said that, it never felt like they could seriously contend the title.

Leclerc and Sainz at the Japanese GP
Image: Scuderia Ferrari Press Office

Things are even worse for Mercedes.

The German team hasn’t won a single race this year after narrowly losing the title to Verstappen last year.

However, Lewis Hamilton, who finished in fifth place, said that he was confident the team would get back to its winning ways in 2023.

Leclerc and Sainz at the Japanese GP
Image: Mercedes AMG F1

The championship will resume on October 23 at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas.

After that, the teams will fly to Mexico City and São Paulo, Brazil, before heading off to Abu Dhabi for the season’s Grand Finale.

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Experienced content creator with a strong focus on cars and watches. Alessandro penned the first-ever post on the Supercar Blondie website and covers cars, watches, yachts, real estate and crypto. Former DriveTribe writer, fixed gear bike owner, obsessed with ducks for some reason.