Max Verstappen has become a two-time F1 World Champion, after a chaotic Japanese Grand Prix. The race in Suzuka was delayed by a couple of hours due to heavy rains, and that resulted in a shortened race of only 28 laps.
The Dutchman joins a unique club of drivers to have won the driver’s championship on multiple occasions. He is now the second-youngest two-time F1 champion after Sebastian Vettel.
Max Verstappen wins 2022 Driver’s Championship
The Red Bull driver has won 12 out of the 18 races so far this season. And after initially struggling to get things going, he has clinched the title with multiple races to go. Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, is second in the standings and was handed a 5-second penalty in the race today.
With the kind of performances he is putting in, Max Verstappen could be on the verge of an iconic F1 career. He only recently celebrated his 25th birthday, and having started his career at the age of 17, things are starting to come full circle for him.
“To be honest I don’t mind that it was a little bit confusing, I find it quite funny,” Verstappen said.
“When I crossed the line I didn’t believe that we would have won the title because I also didn’t know if we’re going to get full points or not,” he said. “I don’t think everyone was 100% sure at the end.”
“It’s been a very enjoyable year and a very special year, which will be very hard in the future to match,” he added. “The first one is always the most emotional but this one is definitely the better one, just in terms of performance.”