Is he or is he not (yet)? There is complete confusion in the paddock of the Suzuka circuit right after the Japanese Grand Prix has ended. Max Verstappen has won the race, but because of the rain, only a little more than half of the laps have been driven. Therefore, fewer points would be awarded, and that in turn would mean that Verstappen would have to wait one more race for his world title, because his lead in the standings is not yet big enough. He himself is convinced that the time has not come yet.
But in the catacombs of the pit lane, people start to congratulate Verstappen. A bit uncomfortably, the Dutchman accepts the congratulations, he scratches his head. The international motorsport federation FIA has issued a statement explaining that because the race was previously stopped due to rain but then restarted, full points will still be awarded. And because Ferrari’s rival Charles Leclerc has been put back from place 2 to place 3 by a five-second time penalty, Verstappen suddenly has enough lead. Moments later, when he steps on stage, it is also on the large video screens: “Max Verstappen world champion‘.
And so the 25-year-old Verstappen wins his second world championship in a row. Afterwards he said: “The first title was more emotional, but this has been a very special year. This title is perhaps even better because of the season we have had.”
undisputed
As controversial as his first title was, so undisputed is the second. Verstappen became world champion last year after overtaking his rival Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the final race after a dubious decision by race management. That title is still up for debate: next week a report will be released on teams that allegedly breached the budget cap last season, and Red Bull – rumored to be one of those teams. It is not clear whether the violation of the rules has consequences for Verstappen’s number of points, and therefore for the award of last year’s title.
This season there is no discussion: Verstappen is the best. The victory in Japan is his twelfth grand prix victory of the season, one less than the record of thirteen victories in a year. Verstappen partly owes this success to his team: his car is the fastest and most reliable and Red Bull Racing often makes the right strategic decisions.
Verstappen himself showed that he can perform every race again. Regardless of the increasing pressure and high expectations, despite annoying rumors and bizarre course developments, Verstappen drove mature and imperturbable to good results. He kept out of the crowd when he had to and overtook spectacularly when he could. When he took the lead, he rarely relinquished it.
Also read: Talent, luck, instinct – everything that makes Max Verstappen good was on display in Zandvoort
Nowhere was his class more visible than during the Belgian Grand Prix, where Verstappen had to start from 14th place due to an engine change. The Dutchman only needed twelve laps to pass the cars in front of him, and then drive unthreatened to victory. It was of a dominance, Red Bulls team boss Christian Horner told last month NRCwhich reminded him of the period 2010-2013, the years in which the German Sebastian Vettel won four world titles in a row for Red Bull.
Ferrari started well
At the start of the season it didn’t look like the world championship with four races to go would be decided yet. Ferrari proved a formidable competitor with a new car, and Charles Leclerc won two of the first three races on behalf of the Italian team. With this he built up a lead of 46 points over Verstappen. But then it was the turn of the Dutchman, who won three grands prix in a row and did not relinquish the lead in the standings after that. With five wins in the last six races, he has maneuvered himself out of sight of the competition in recent weeks and towards a second world title.
Unlike last week, when Verstappen had to win in Singapore and also had to hope for bad results from his closest competitor Leclerc and teammate Sergio Perez, Verstappen had everything in hand at the Suzuka circuit in Japan. Winning and driving the fastest lap of the race – good for a bonus point – would be enough.
Verstappen had said in advance that he needed a “perfect weekend”. Saturday started well and blunders like in Singapore were avoided, when Verstappen was on his way to the fastest time during qualifying but had to cancel his lap due to fuel shortage. In Japan he took his fifth pole position of the season.
On Sunday, Verstappen again did what he had to do – win, and in a dominant way. He crossed the finish line almost half a minute ahead.
The fervent wish of Verstappen and Red Bull to become world champion in the country of engine supplier Honda did come true. Corona has not been able to race on the Suzuka circuit for the past two years. The Dutchman drove his first laps in a Formula 1 car on the Japanese circuit in 2014 during a free practice session. And since Red Bull partnered with Honda in 2018, the British team has become increasingly competitive. The constructors’ title, which Red Bull can hardly miss, should be a new high.
Also read: “Everything Max Verstappen still wins is a bonus,” says his team boss Christian Horner
Verstappen and Red Bull seem to have begun a new reign in the most important class in motorsport. Now is the time not to get complacent, Horner said in conversation with NRC. He still sees Verstappen getting better. “Since that first title, a lot has fallen from his shoulders. Anything he wins now is a bonus, and we’re going to use this season’s momentum to build next year’s success.” Formula 1 has been warned.