Max Verstappen won his second world drivers’ championship title in dramatic fashion with a last lap penalty from Charles Leclerc declaring him champion of the world in Japan.
The Dutchman did not even realise he had won it, convinced he was a point shy before it was explained to him that it was full points – not half points – to be awarded after the race resumed following a two-hour rain delay.
With the title secure with four races remaining, it caps off a thrilling season to date where Verstappen has packed his highlights reel.
Max Verstappen won his second F1 World Championship title in the Japanese Grand Prix
Sportsmail’s Nathan Salt pores over Verstappen’s second championship win and picks out five races that played a key role in allowing him to be the first Red Bull driver since Sebastian Vettel in 2012 and 2013 to go back-to-back.
March 27 – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Not only was this his first win of the season, it was also the first real psychological blow he was able to land on Leclerc.
This was an intense to-and-fro with the Ferrari man and it bordered on farce when they were slowing down to capitalise on DRS zones by getting a tow from the other.
On it went, lap for lap, incredible racing and just what the doctor ordered for a new season that already looked like it would be without any meaningful challenge from Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes – and so that proved.
Vertsappen picked up his first win of the F1 season as he beat Charles Leclerc in Saudi Arabia
Late on Verstappen landed the blow.
The Red Bull driver brilliantly passed Leclerc with four laps to go to head for victory.
‘We just had to play the long game,’ Verstappen said.
‘It wasn’t easy, eventually managed to get ahead, just really happy to kickstart the season.’
And on that long game went as Ferrari’s strategists imploded the season and Verstappen could look back to where it all began back in Saudi.
July 31 – Hungarian Grand Prix
Easily his finest drive of the season.
This was a remarkable performance against the odds at the iconic Hungaroring circuit.
Adrian Newey, the brainy designer behind Verstappen’s championship cars, echoes the opinion of Hungary being Verstappen’s best in 2022 after the Dutchman recovered from his worst qualifying position of 10th to take the win.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner called Verstappen’s driver in Hungary ‘unbelievable’
This was the last race before the summer break and it is particularly remarkable given the fact he committed a 360 spin when lighting up his rear tyres during the race, handing the league back to title rival Leclerc.
Verstappen was heading out of the penultimate Turn 13 and tried to go for the power but spun the rears and rotated 360, seeing Leclerc zip past.
Fear not, down went his head and back to racing he went. Come Lap 43 he was back within a second of Leclerc and he was picking him off with ease.
Verstappen won the race despite spinning on the penultimate corner in the 42nd lap
It was poetry in motion from there and he showed that he can dance as well as dominate in the field.
‘That is right up there with your best,’ team boss Christian Horner said. ‘Unbelievable.’
August 28 – Belgian Grand Prix
Great champions make timely statements and this was a huge one in 2022 for Verstappen when he navigated his way from 14th on the grid to stand P1 at the chequered flag.
He had run quickest in qualifying but a grid penalty shunted him down the order – to no avail it would transpire.
Verstappen sliced the rest of the field open and it was at this point – after finishing 17.8 seconds ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez – that arguments against Verstappen retaining his world title fell on deaf ears.
Verstappen won in Belgium even after starting the race from 14th place on the grid
The driver powered through the field and even finished 17.8 seconds ahead of his teammate
Part of the novelty of starting further pack appealing to the racer in Verstappen and by Lap 7 he was up to fifth.
‘Once we were in the lead, it was just about just managing everything,’ Verstappen said afterwards. ‘The whole weekend was incredible. It’s been a weekend I couldn’t imagine.’
Neither could many of his rivals and with his lead in the title race now at 92 points, hope for anyone else was fading fast.
September 12 – Italian Grand Prix
Heading to the ‘Temple of Speed’ Verstappen was under no illusion of the challenge facing him.
This is Ferrari’s home race after all and Verstappen had never previously managed to finish on the podium at Monza.
Grid penalties for a handful of drivers had him starting down in seventh but he produced a drive that not only made it five straight wins – the ruthless sign of a true champion – but he made a mockery of Ferrari’s performance on the day.
The victory in Monza game Verstappen a points lead of 116 over rival Charles Leclerc
By the second corner he had shot through the order and was up to third and from there George Russell was picked off on lap five and pole-sitting Leclerc was soon disposed of.
Ferrari’s questionable strategy calls – multiple pit-stop calls for tyre changes raised eyebrows from Ferrari fans and looked even worse in retrospect – naturally played into Verstappen’s hands – but this was a track where he had never finished higher than fifth remember, it was hanging over him.
While it finished under a safety car amid boos from the crowd this was still a supremely professional drive and victory put him in contention to mathematically win the title for the first time this season in Singapore.
Leaving Monza with a 116-point lead of Leclerc was remarkable. A win to show he really has been in a league of his own – and Ferrari know it.
October 9 – Japanese Grand Prix
He qualified on pole but a title win was seen as a foregone conclusion until the weather radar showed a rainstorm passing through, throwing a major spanner in the works after a below-par practice session on Friday in the wet.
At the original standing start he made a slow getaway and was beaten off the line smartly by Leclerc, starting in second, but in the next few moments Verstappen showed all his class.
Verstappenwas able to battle against the elements in Japan as he put in a professional dri
Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix after Leclerc was given a five second penalty
Half a car length behind down the run to Turn 1, Verstappen refused to concede position – it would have been so easy to do so – and his aggressive racing style paid off when Leclerc faltered and soon re-assumed position in second.
When the two-hour delay for the rain was over and we were back racing, Verstappen got the pack moving with a rolling start and victory was never in doubt thereafter.
In hazardous conditions and with the build-up totally dominated by allegations of a Red Bull breach of the £114million 2021 budget cap rules – they deny this but the results are due out today – blocking out the noise was as important as ever.
The win meant that his points total of 366 is unassailable in the last four races of the season
It may have taken the handiwork of team-mate Sergio Perez to force the last mistake Red Bull needed from Leclerc but Japan was another stunning drive from Verstappen.
He may not view it like Damon Hill does his Suzuka success in 1994 in the wet but it should be up there. Welcome to the exclusive Suzuka champions club, Max.
