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Max Verstappen has successfully defended his world title in Formula 1. After last year’s drama, the Dutchman left no questions unanswered this time: He is the deserved world champion – and will be hard to beat in the future as well.
The second match ball sits. Max Verstappen took the Formula 1 crown for the second time in a row in the chaos race in Suzuka on Sunday (October 9th, 2022). It had been clear for weeks that there would be no drama like last season. In December 2021, the world title was decided in the final kilometers in Abu Dhabi.
The fact that the world champion is four races before the end is reminiscent of the years of Hamilton dominance. And it is certainly also true that the weakening Mercedes, but above all the many mistakes made by Ferrari, were a decisive factor this year. But what is much more important is that the old and new world champions are simply superior to the competition at the moment.
Formula 1 in 2022: A Verstappen show
Max Verstappen has won his second Formula 1 title in an impressive manner. Above all, he dominated the races in the summer in such a way that at times there was virtually no competition to be taken seriously. 2022 was and is a Verstappen show.
From the outside, one may – as already mentioned – be reminded of Hamilton’s dominant years in the Mercedes, when he dominated the racing series between 2014 and 2020 at will. Only in 2016 did Nico Rosberg have the upper hand – but also in the completely unrivaled Mercedes.
Ferrari at least on par with Red Bull
However, the Red Bull car was by no means superior this season. On the contrary: just looking at the qualifying results shows that Ferrari was and still is at least on par when it comes to pace. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was on pole nine times, his team-mate Carlos Sainz twice. Verstappen “only” started five times from first place on the grid.
But Ferrari gambled away this speed time and time again. Sometimes through the wrong race strategy, sometimes through wrong tire tactics and again and again through hair-raising mistakes. Red Bull benefited from this – and Verstappen proved, especially in the races, that in his current form he is not only the most aggressive, but simply the best driver. He determines the pace, he sets the tone.
Verstappen fights doggedly for every point
How doggedly the Dutchman fights for every point, despite a comfortable lead in the World Championship, was shown most recently at the race in Singapore, when he sharply criticized his team several times for wrong tactics in qualifying. His car didn’t have enough fuel in the tank for a fast final lap. In the race he once again worked his way up before an overly optimistic maneuver against Lando Norris cost him a few places.
It should give the competition something to think about that Verstappen can dominate the world championship in such a way in a season in which such catching-up races were quite common. Significant: In the last race before the summer break (Budapest) he drove from tenth on the grid to victory, in the first race after that (Spa) even from 15th on the grid. Between April 23 (Imola) and September 11 (Monza) Verstappen clinched twelve of 15 possible race wins. This is pure dominance.
Verstappen after first world title: “The rest is a bonus”
At just 25 years old, Verstappen is now catching up with Formula 1 legends such as Jim Clark, Emerson Fittipaldi and Mika Häkkinen, all of whom have also won two world titles. After last year’s success, Verstappen was quite untypical for him, rather modest: “My dream has always been to win the World Cup. Everything that comes now is bonus.”
2022 was part one of this bonus tour through the pinnacle of motorsport. And she showed that it takes more than a fast car to stop him. Ferrari and Mercedes will do everything in their power to capture Red Bull’s high-flyers next season. At the moment, however, there is no way around Max Verstappen.