Max Verstappen wins 2022 F1 world title
by Abhishek Takle |
Max Verstappen won his first Formula One championship amid controversy last year and the second after confusion at the Japanese Grand Prix but this time there was no argument about the outcome.
The 25-year-old Red Bull driver has enjoyed one of the most dominant seasons in the sport’s history with Suzuka the scene of his 12th win in 18 races in 2022 and four rounds still remaining.
“Max has been truly, truly dominant. That’s our 14th victory (of 2022), a record for us (in a single season), and the way he has driven since the first race,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
“We came back from some difficulties in the first couple of races, but he and the team have just raised it to another level.”
The Dutch driver’s first title was marked by drama and acrimony as he fought a down-to-the wire, battle-of-the-generations duel with Mercedes’ seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton.
That ended in one of the sport’s greatest controversies, with a late change to the safety car procedures leading to a last lap overtake in Abu Dhabi.
Only 28 laps were completed in Suzuka but full points were awarded because the race resumed after a red flag had caused a delay of more than two hours.
Verstappen took the chequered flag by a gaping 27 seconds following a fine display after the restart.
He was then confirmed as champion when his nearest rival on the points table, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was penalised for gaining an advantage, having run off the track at the final corner. The Frenchman was relegated to third, with Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez promoted to second.
Confusion had reigned as it was unclear if Verstappen had been awarded half-points due to the truncated nature of the race – before it was confirmed full points were given.
Even Red Bull’s social media accounts delayed announcing their man as double world-champion as his title victory – much like in Abu Dhabi last year – was anything but clear, even for the driver himself.
“When I crossed the line I didn’t believe that we would have won the title right there because I also didn’t know if we’re going to get full points or not,” said the Dutchman.
“But nevertheless a great, great day at the end we could race and the race itself we could manage really well with the car and the tyres so I’m very happy to win here.
“The first is more emotional but the second is more beautiful.”
Buoyed by his 2021 title win over the sport’s most successful driver in Hamilton, Verstappen has shown metronomic consistency.
“Some of the drives have been just simply outstanding this year under enormous pressure,” Horner told reporters after the Singapore Grand Prix.
Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s technical head who has designed a string of title-winning cars for three teams in his decades in the sport, said Verstappen had been simply superb.
“In the traffic in Singapore he made a little mistake, but apart from that he’s made no mistakes and he’s always had the speed. He thoroughly deserves all the success he’s having this year,” the Briton told Sky Sports television.
Verstappen suffered two retirements from the first three races but has otherwise finished all but two rounds in the top three.
He has had an impressive car, with Red Bull nailing the radical rules introduced this year, and has benefited from reliability woes, strategic missteps, and errors derailing Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc’s title challenge.
The Dutch driver also showed maturity and assurance in winning from 10th place on the starting grid in Hungary, 14th in Belgium and seventh in Italy.
Verstappen can still break the record of most wins in a season, shared by Schumacher and Vettel at 13.
“I know that it’s been a really special season,” he said. “I’m enjoying it a lot but I’ll probably enjoy more after the season, looking back at it.”
Reuters
