Max Verstappen clinched his second Formula one Championship title amid bizarre scenes on Sunday after closest rival Charles Leclerc was handed a five-second post-race penalty.
Red Bull’s Verstappen crossed the line first and was then awarded the title when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who had emerged second was pushed back to third after receiving the penalty. Leclerc’s drop meant Verstappen’s compatriot Sergio Perez finished second.
According to FIA rules, the staggered points only come in “if a race is suspended in accordance with Article 57, and “cannot be resumed”. The race was resumed, so the FIA said full points were awarded to Verstappen after a brief twist.
The win marked Verstappen’s second-successive F1 title. The victory in Japan was the Dutch high flyer’s 12th win of the season after he started from pole position to reach the chequered flag ahead of any other driver on the grid.
Despite the downpour in Suzuka, Verstappen, sealed the deal to clinch his second straight world championship title at the very same venue where he made his debut as the youngest-ever driver to take part in a practice session.
His second title came in a less dramatic fashion in comparison to his maiden win last year, in which he clinched the title in a rather controversial manner at the expense of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at the very last race of the season.
This year, the Dutchman has been head and shoulders above anyone, with a lead of over a hundred points separating him from his closest competitor.
The 25-year-old’s season started off in disappointing fashion as he came off with a DNF result on the very first race of the season. It seemed like he was back to winning way as he claimed the top spot in Saudi Arabia, this season’s second race. But, he turned in another DNF result in the very next race in Australia.
Just when it seemed like challenger Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was pulling away in the title race, Verstappen picked up the pace and truly hit a purple patch as he claimed the numero uno position in 10 of the following 14 races leading up to Suzuka. Here’s how fans reacted to Verstappen’s second world championship title.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TWO TIME CHAMPION OF THE WORLD ???????? ??? pic.twitter.com/b5Rm5g2vTt
— Jack ?? MV1 ?? (@MV1Jack) October 9, 2022
Max Verstappen win a normal championship – Difficulty: Impossible
— Dan – EngineMode11 (@EngineMode11) October 9, 2022
never ask a woman her age, a man his salary and max verstappen how he won his world titles
— frenkie (@balaclavalines) October 9, 2022
we went from “ITS GOING DUTCH IN 2021 MAX VERSTAPPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IS CHAMPION OF THE WORLD” to “i thought he needed one more point but max verstappen is the world champion in 2022” ???????
— ? (@landoscharles) October 9, 2022
Why can’t Max Verstappen win a World Championship without some massive confusion ???? Like this was meant to be a normal boring mundane Title win, and now everyone’s confused
— Aarav (@_aarava) October 9, 2022
27 seconds win in a 28 lap race ? ? Bravo Max Verstappen What A Way To Win Your 2nd Championship pic.twitter.com/a93BLmaLlG
— RedBull Power Unit (@RedBullPU1) October 9, 2022
MAX VERSTAPPEN IS CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!! ? pic.twitter.com/QymO9mYWEb
— AnythingF1 (@AnythingF1_) October 9, 2022
MAX VERSTAPPEN DOUBLE WORLD CHAMPION ? pic.twitter.com/yl3278Qu3Y
— Camy Zavala (@ZavalaCamy) October 9, 2022
no way max verstappen has now won two championships and they have both been overshadowed by the fia??
— Harry (@formularaducanu) October 9, 2022
MAX VERSTAPPEN TWO TIME WORLD CHAMPION !!! pic.twitter.com/uuTdXT7Kxh
— comfort max verstappen (@thinkermaxv) October 9, 2022
No one deserves this championship more than Max Verstappen. Unreal consistency all season, I am so proud of him and the team ?
— Sophia (@sophiahobbs_) October 9, 2022
