Max Verstappen retains F1 title amid chaos and controversy at Japanese GP

Max Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix for Red Bull, securing his second Formula One world championship in the process. Sergio Pérez, his teammate, came second on the day and third overall, while Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finished third in the race and second over the season. Esteban Ocon was fourth for Alpine with Lewis Hamilton in fifth for Mercedes.

The race was race delayed for two hours because of rain and finished after only 28 laps – just over half the race’s total distance, so enough to ensure Verstappen was awarded the points he needed. However itrequiredmore last-lap drama to ensure he claimed the title this weekend.

Leclerc had finished second on the track – enough to keep the title-race alive – but was given a five-second penalty for cutting a corner on the final circuit, which meant he and Pérez swapped places.

The day belonged to Verstappen but was also defined by anger from across the grid after a tractor was deployed on track while cars were still circulating.

Verstappen claimed the championship after a dominant season in which he has won 12 of 18 races, including six of the last seven. With the races remaining, he remains inposition to break the record set by Michael Schumacher in 2004 and Sebastian Vettel in 2013, who both took 13 wins. With the title secure it is an eminently achievable goal and would represent a major F1 record for Verstappen. He has become only the third driver to have secured the championship with four or more races remaining – Michael Schumacher took it in 2002 with six to go and Nigel Mansell in 1992 with five, while Sebastian Vettel won with four remaining also at the Japanese GP in 2011.

The race opened in the rain and Verstappen made a slow start but clung on bravely to