2022 GP Japan
Max Verstappen wins the Japanese Grand Prix becoming the 2022 World Champion!
It has been three years since the emergence of the Japanese Grand Prix. A track carrying a wealth of history on the Formula One calendar. With 11 World Championship titles decided on Suzuka soil, the possibility of crowning the 12th was ever present going into this weekend.
After a damp Friday and Saturday, hopes were that drier conditions were on the horizon for Sunday’s race. However, a morning cast with grey skies seemed to foreshadow the mounting reality of a soggy setting for the afternoon.
Similar to Singapore, all drivers lined the grid with Intermediate tires as the rain began to increase. Now evident that visibility was going to be minimal, further elevating the likelihood of uncontrollable outcomes.
The race began with a tight battle around Turn 1 between Leclerc and pole-sitter Verstappen, with the Red Bull driver edging ahead of Leclerc to hold his position at the front of the grid.
Behind them both however, was turmoil.
Sebastien Vettel, who on Saturday, had his best qualifying result since Azerbaijan found himself fall to the back of the grid after clipping Alonso early into Lap 1.
After losing control briefly and spinning out, Alfa Romeo’s, Zhou followed Vettel slipping behind.
After initial contact with Magnussen, Williams driver, Alex Albon was forced to retire early citing technical issues.
A frightening crash for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who aquaplaned at the exit of Turn 11 bringing out the safety car.
Pierre Gasly suffered front wing damage after picking up an advertisement board from Sainz’s accident.
In an alarming moment, a tractor was allowed onto the track while drivers still remained on the circuit. An extremely dangerous situation carrying the possibility for devastating consequences. Consequences that Gasly expressed shortly after witnessing.
"What is this tractor on track?" Gasly yelled. "I passed next to it. This is unacceptable. Remember what has happened. Can't believe this.”
Gasly, referring to the passing of Jules Bianchi on the Suzkua circuit in 2014. The result of injuries sustained from a crash with a similar vehicle.
The FIA has announced that they will be reviewing the incident after the race.
With the Safety Car enabled, by Lap 2 it was clear the weather was a significant impairment bringing out the red flag and halting the race.
As the rain continued to intensify, the delay was prolonged to over 2 hours. By the time the green light was given, roughly 50 minutes of race time remained as the Safety Car led the drivers back onto the track for a rolling start.
Within the 28 laps assigned and in a show of complete domination, Verstappen crossed the finish line with a 23-second lead and his 32nd career win. At this rate, Verstappen is on pace to shatter the record for most wins in a season, a title presently held by both Sebasten Vettel and Michael Schumacher.
Following Verstappen, Leclerc looked to take P2, however in an attempt to defend his position from a relentless Sergio Perez, the Ferrari driver cut the chicane in the final lap resulting in a five-second penalty and P3 finish.
For Perez, he was elevated to P2 providing Red Bull with their fifth 1-2 finish of the year.
For many including Verstappen, the end of race concluded his chances of being crowned in Japan, with the assumption that full points would not be granted given the limited laps completed. However, the FIA determined that because the race was able to still continue, that full points would be awarded, thus solidifying Verstappen as the 2022 World Champion.
In an unusual development, and much to his surprise, Max was notified during his post race interview.
"I had no clue what they were going to decide with the points," Verstappen said.
"I don't mind that it was a little bit confusing," he exclaimed. "I actually find it quite funny.”
As for Red Bull, with a commanding success of the 2022 season, they are quickly closing the gap to securing the Constructors title while displaying their most dominant year to date.
Finishing in P4 with his best result of the year was Esteban Ocon just ahead of Hamilton who ended with P5. The duel between both drivers was a highlight that continued throughout the the race, where Ocon demonstrated strength in a charging Hamilton known for his success in wet conditions.
Driver of the day along with P6 went to Sebastien Vettel. The Aston Martin driver was the first to pit for Intermediates on the restart giving him much needed pace, climbing his way back up the grid to finish not only within the points, but ahead of where he qualified on Saturday.
With a late overtake on the final lap, Alpine’s Fernando Alonso managed to squeeze past Russell to take P7.
After a Mercedes double stacked pit stop cost valuable seconds, Russell found himself fighting to crack back into top ten. But in spite of the earlier setbacks, the Mercedes driver had a series of brilliant overtakes on Tsunoda, Norris and Latifi. A solid recovery finishing in P8.
Beginning the race with a five place grid penalty due to his collision with Zhou in Singapore, Nicholas Latifi was able to produce his best result of the year. Switching to Intermediates after the restart provided the Williams driver a significant advantage needed to earn his first points for the season.
After a close call during qualifying with Verstappen, Mclaren’s Lando Norris was able to scoop up the final point, finishing with P10.
After a heartbreaking qualifying missing Q3 contention by .003 seconds, Daniel Ricciardo had managed to advance three positions to 8th by the time the race had initially stopped. Yet a strategic decision to hold off on pitting during the restart cost the Australian, resulting overall with P11.
Also with a strong start, Lance Stroll made a quick witted move along the wall to leap 7 places. Although it wasn’t enough for the Canadian to retain ending with P12.
Able to experience his first home race, AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda finished with P13.
With a well timed overtake on Valtteri Bottas, Haas’s Kevin Magnussen took P14 with Bottas taking P15 respectively.
Earning fastest lap of the race, Zhou Guanyu followed his teammate to take P16 adding another point to his standings.
It was a rollercoaster weekend for Mick Schumacher, an earlier crash during FP1 that adds to an already costly season for Haas to a risky gamble keeping Schumacher out of the pits. Although the decision gave the Haas driver a brief taste of the lead, the gamble did not pay off, ending with a late pit stop and a P17 result.
After a weekend troubled with brake complications on Saturday and a series of challenges during the race, Pierre Gasly was the final driver to finish with P18
With the final stretch of the season upon us, Formula One heads to Austin, Texas host of the United States Grand Prix!
By Samantha Horvath
