Formula 1 has its world champion: Max Verstappen

“What madness! Winning here in Japan is really special, I feel very proud that we can do it here. When I crossed the line, I didn’t know I was World Champion, there was a lot of confusion, but I thought it was quite funny.

At 25 years and 9 days, Max Verstappen is two-time champion of the highest motor racing circuit. He does it very early when the Grand Prix of Austin United States, Mexico City, Brazil and Abu Dhabi are still to be run.

On the same track in Japan, he drove an F1 car for the first time when he was racing for Toro Rosso in 2014. Max became the second youngest driver in history to become a two-time world champion, only behind Sebastian Vettel, who added his second world championship with 24 years, 3 months and 6 days.

“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 keep pushing, we keep believing and we keep improving the car. As a team we have made very few mistakes, you can’t be perfect, but in most races we were close to it. Working together with Honda has been amazing and of course a lot of thanks goes to the team here on the track, in the factory and those who have contributed to the Red Bull Powertrains division. Checo has been an amazing teammate and now all the focus is on the Constructors’ Championship. Let’s see what we can do in Austin.”

Third place on the Japanese podium went to Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who received a five-second penalty for an irregular maneuver against Checo. Both are one point apart in the drivers’ standing.

The 1-2 in Suzuka meant Red Bull’s twelfth double in F1, being the fifth they achieve in 2022, their best record in a year surpassing their record of four that they achieved in 2009, 2010 and 2013.

Verstappen’s 12th win of the season has moved him within one of the single-season records set by Michael Schumacher in 2004 and Sebastian Vettel in 2013. At Suzuka on Sunday October 2022, it was the first time a championship had been won. of drivers since Sebastian Vettel in 2011. Only Michael Schumacher in 2002 (6) and Nigel Mansell in 1992 (5) achieved the Drivers’ title with the most races remaining.

Furthermore, Verstappen had never led a lap at Suzuka and topped 5,000 miles as a career leader. Among the hugs of victory, Max also celebrated victory number 32 in his career, which ties Fernando Alonso’s total.

Verstappen is the thirteenth driver in the history of Formula 1 to win two world championships in a row, being the sixth to do so in the 21st century.

“I am very proud of what Max has done this season; he has stepped forward as a driver. I was fighting with him at the beginning but then halfway through the year he switched gears, the way he drove in some races was unbelievable. It’s a great day for the team, to do this in Japan against Honda and with a 1-2 is incredible. Hopefully soon we can secure the Constructors’ Championship for our team, that will be huge. I am looking forward to the rest of the year. Today was a great battle with Charles, it was good that we were able to run because at one point we thought we would not make it. It was a fantastic fight and we pushed him hard towards the end, it was very difficult to overtake without DRS, but I kept the pressure on, he made the mistake and took the penalty to give me P2,” said team boss Christian Horner.

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