F1. The highlights of Max Verstappen’s second title. Sport

Dutchman Max Verstappen, winner of the Japanese Grand Prix long interrupted on Sunday at Suzuka due to rain, was declared world champion in confusion after a penalty given immediately after the arrival of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).

After a race interrupted for two hours on lap three due to weather conditions and two retirements, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) crossed the line ahead of Charles Leclerc and Sergio Pérez (Red Bull). But Leclerc, second in the world championship, was eventually penalized and lost his place to the Mexican. This change allowed the 25-year-old Dutchman to be titled, as in 2021, after a very confused end of the Grand Prix.

After the confusion, the joy of the now double world champion Max Verstappen! ??????#GP of Japan ???? pic.twitter.com/9IhEE0Erpx

– CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) October 9, 2022

READ ALSO. F1. The coronation of Max Verstappen, a title that is not affected (this time) by any dispute

A look at the highlights of Max Verstappen’s season.

Bahrain / Australia: mechanical problems

The 2022 season got off to a bad start for Verstappen and Red Bull: second place in the inaugural Bahrain GP – behind Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari – seemed promised to Max Verstappen, but within five laps his car broke. Same sentence for Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez.

If the frustration is there, the concern is still not felt in the Red Bull clan, especially since a week later Verstappen snatched the victory in Saudi Arabia.

But at the beginning of April the troubles began again: Verstappen was abandoned again due to a mechanical problem, in Australia.

“Things like that, if you want to fight for the title, are unacceptable”the Dutchman had railed.

This departure will be the last of the season for the Dutchman.

Spain: conquer the reins of the championship

At the Spanish GP in mid-May, confidence was restored when Verstappen arrived in Catalonia with two consecutive wins, in Emilia-Romagna and Miami.

At the end of a hectic race, where he left the track, then due to mechanical problems on his DRS, the Dutchman won ahead of his teammate Pérez, forced to give him priority by the team’s indications – the Mexican will appreciate …

Above all, this victory allowed him to recover the reins of the championship from the hands of Leclerc, who retired the victim of a technical problem, reins that he would not have given up until the title, even if, at that moment, he can still believe in Ferrari’s hopes.

France: Charles Leclerc does him a favor

Championship header conquered, Verstappen saw the competition – Charles Leclerc and Ferrari in the lead – move away at the same time.

Ferrari is not keeping up with “Mad Max”, for reasons of mechanical reliability or strategy, and Leclerc was not infallible either.

At the French GP the Monegasque looks like an “outsider”, but he can still believe in a comeback, after the last two races in Great Britain and Austria where he scored more points than his opponent. Starting from pole position, he was leading the GP when he went off the track alone, giving up the pace.

Verstappen didn’t expect so much: wins for the 7th time this season. At Le Castellet, the reigning world champion begins the start of a six-game winning streak until Singapore, which is still in progress.

Max Verstappen easily won at Le Castellet! ??

???? The Dutchman takes advantage of Charles Leclerc’s retirement to win his 27th race

?? The title holder now has a 63-point lead over the Monegasque#GP of France ???? | ?? https://t.co/t7uFs3yVeh pic.twitter.com/J8CEZsO1Z3

– CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) July 24, 2022

Belgium: the “recovery”

Launched from an unusual 14th place after a penalty for an engine change at the Belgian GPVerstappen still manages to bring his Red Bull back to the top of the standings.

According to its competitors, “Mad Max” and Red Bull are “on another planet”in a league of its own.

“The championship looks very tough now, with the pace they have shown.”recognized Leclerc, 6th in Belgium.

Netherlands: home win

At home in the Netherlands, the Dutchman snatched his fourth straight win, chaining the rallies during a flawless weekend.

Starting in the lead on the Zandvoort track, the venue benefited from the help of fate, combined with the good strategic choices of his team when the safety car was invited to the track.

Max Verstappen king of home qualification ??

???? The Dutchman leads Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz by 2 cents!

?? Sergio Perez misses the last corner and ruins his and Mercedes’ chances#GP Dutch ???? # F1 | ?? https://t.co/t7uFs3yVeh pic.twitter.com/gfrC3frmJN

– CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) September 3, 2022

The hopes of the start of the season, those of a fierce competition between Red Bull and Verstappen on the one hand and Ferrari and Leclerc on the other, are now distant memories.

Especially since Ferrari is not doing well in his garage… Forgetting a tire during the first pit stop of his other Spanish driver Carlos Sainz.

Japan: mastery and confusion

Starting from pole position for the 18th round of the season, Max Verstappen made no mistakes, neither at the start, under pressure from Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), nor after the long interruption of the race, on lap 3, due to conditions and the accident of the other Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz.

The accident between Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez in the (presumed) last lap that “gives” the title to Max Verstappen ????#GP of Japan ???? pic.twitter.com/Dzn6GJClgu

– CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) October 9, 2022

READ ALSO. VIDEO. F1 – Japanese GP: “I could have committed suicide”, Gasly angry for having touched a tow truck

The end of the race was very tough, because a five-second penalty imposed on Leclerc, after the finish line, for cutting a corner while under pressure from Sergio Pérez, the other Red Bull driver, caused the Monegasque to be relegated. in 3rd place and offered the world title to Verstappen, for a small point, as he was about to take the podium for his 32nd F1 win, as Fernando Alonso. And his second consecutive world title, like Alonso.