I’ll be off now, but thanks for joining us (Dan, mainly) and catch you next time. Check back in for all Giles’s pieces from Suzuka through the day …
Updated
And before I go, a few words from Hamilton.
“I don’t feel frustrated,” he says. “It was a sprint race. I did the best I could and I’m happy that we at least got some points today. We were just so slow in a straight line. I was getting close, as close as I could. As soon as I would pull out, they would pull away. I wish it was a longer race. I’m glad that we got some laps for the fans here.”
He will not be drawn on the safety or otherwise of the conditions.
Herewith Richards’s race report, with all the detail of what unfolded today.
Updated
Thoughts?
That’s why F1 must always race in rain, especially with some manageable standing water, the best chance for the drivers to look like the super-heroes they really are.
— Martin Brundle (@MBrundleF1) October 9, 2022
There were 42 pit stops in the #JapaneseGP, with the race red flagged after just 28 laps 🌧️#F1 #Fit4F1 #Formula1 #Pirelli #Pirelli150 @F1 pic.twitter.com/MSQzWEUGMG
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) October 9, 2022
While this is Verstappen’s day, there are other storylines from this race, including the terrifying incident involving Gasly, which I will suspect will have some time to run yet. There was also that incredible battle between Hamiton and Ocon – the almost overtake that never eventuated. Vettel’s smart tyre gamble. So much to take in from only 28 laps.
There’s a race report coming from our own Giles Richards shortly, but here is a snippet:
Verstappen claimed the championship after an absolutely dominant season. He has taken 12 wins from 18 races, including six from the last seven races. The Dutchman remains in every position to make a tilt at the record held by Micheal 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 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.
Updated
Helmut Marko is celebrating a “big surprise, but a very nice surprise”. The man who brought Verstappen onto the F1 scene as a 17-year-old can barely believe it.
“Unbelievable,” Marko confirms. “We only found out when the speaker was saying congratulations, because we thought we were one point behind.
““He’s a much more mature driver, first corner Budapest or Spa I thought who is this driver but once he is in free air bang he shows his class.”
There’s a lot of talk of “genius” on the airwaves and social media. He is peerless, to be fair. He’s immortalising his hand print as we speak and speaking as he does it.
“It’s a crazy feeling of course as I didn’t expect it when I crossed the line,” Verstappen says. “Was it going to be half points? I didn’t know how many points I was going to get.”
Perez, meanwhile, comes out of this race one point ahead of Leclerc in second in the championship. Red Bull haven’t quite won the constructors, but they surely will.
Verstappen’s drive today was a perfect reflection of his season. Peerless. In a class all of his own in 2022. Like Michael Schumacher before him, while controversy may have clouded his first, his follow up has been dominant and indisputable.
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) October 9, 2022
Horner is having his say now, and declares Verstappen is “at another level”.
“For Honda to win this as well – and here – we’re truly grateful for their support in previous years and as a supplier this year,” he says. “It needs everything to come together to achieve the kind of results we have. It’s unexpected, we didn’t think we had the points today but wow, unbelievable.”
Paul Mazel writes in.
Didn’t the organisation make a mistake by not taking into account the reduced points?
You might have thought so, and the Red Bull team certainly thought so. Once the race had finished they were busy looking up the rule book to check whether the race’s resumption did in fact mean full points were awarded. Nobody seemed sure for those first five post-race minutes.
Updated
The champagne has been popped and all and sundry are copping a spray.
“It’s crazy,” Verstappen says. “Very mixed emotions, first of all winning the race, looking back now at what a year I’ve had so far, it’s been incredible. Something I could never have imagined happening after last year … I’m so thankful to everyone who has contributed to this success. The work we’ve done together with Honda all the way through, constantly improving rapidly to win now twice, it’s very emotional. Especially with everyone here watching. It’s a little bit more pressure, but good pressure.
“I think the first one is always a little emotional but the second is even more beautiful with the season we’ve had … it’s something you really have to remind yourself of because these kinds of years you don’t have very often.”
All three drivers stand on the podium. Verstappen, despite being poised for this moment for months on the back of that five-race winning streak from France, is still in disbelief. Not sure if this is an anti-climax or simply in keeping with the craziness that was today.
This is his 32nd career win and second world title.
Updated
Between the two Verstappen interviews – the first that was planned and the second that wasn’t – Perez had this to say:
“It was a bit hectic with Charles, good racing, I tried to make a move and he locked up and went off. The penalty was fair.”
Updated
The broadcast cameras have followed Verstappen into the back and he is confused. “Have I or have I not? I am hearing different things,” he says. It is confirmed to him, and he is shown to a throne room and sat down in front of a ‘World Champion’ banner. “I feel a bit lonely,” he says.
The key here is that because the race resumed, even though it didn’t go to distance, full points could be awarded.
Updated
That means Verstappen has 113-point lead in the championship with only 112 points to go. Verstappen didn’t know that when he crossed the line and there was a bizarre moment when he was interviewed post-race and said “it would have been great to win it here but we have a good opportunity at the next race”. He was called back for another chat pronto, much to everyone’s surprise.
Updated
Verstappen wins F1 title!
Leclearc has been given a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. That means his and Perez’s positions are reversed, and Red Bull record a 1-2 today with Leclerc in third.
Updated
Verstappen wins the Japanese GP!
It wasn’t a classic, marred by rain and a reduced affair, but Verstappen does what he’s been doing all season. He crosses the finish line before anyone else, almost 26 seconds ahead of Leclerc who holds off a spirited late challenge from Perez. They almost make contact in the final lap but sanity prevails and they both remain unscathed. The stewards might look at their final corner as Leclerc went across the rumble strip and maybe cut a corner. Did he push Perez off the track?. Ocon has been superb keeping Hamilton at bay to take 4th after a lengthy battle. Alonso finishes 7th after smartly pitting and moving up several places in just 3 laps.
It was wild. It was messy. But it was fun while it lasted.
1.5 minutes left: So about a lap. Leclerc keeping Perez at bay in the battle for 2nd. In the battle for 4th Ocon has stayed ahead of Hamilton. He’s done brilliantly under pressure. Vettel on his own in 6th is driving a solitary race, as is Verstappen in first who will take 19 points as we’ve just passed a new threshold in terms of percentage of the race completed.
3 mins left: Not long now. Leclerc is hanging on to 2nd, doing his best to keep Perez behind him. He’s doing a great job, to be fair to him. Alonso on the new tyres is chasing Russell in 7th but not sure he’ll have enough time. Hamilton still jiggling behind Ocon. Also, we haven’t passed enough laps for a full quota of points. Verstappen will take 13 for the win.
5 mins left: Perez has caught Leclerc. Red Bull are chasing a 5th 1-2 finish of the season. Alonso, who pitted, has already passed Norris into 9th and is chasing down Latifi. Leclerc goes wide on the defence and offers Perez a sniff but the space is shut down. This will be a grandstand finish. Hamilton is still trying to get past Ocon. Not sure he will. As I type Alonso is passing Latifi. Wow. Shows what a difference the new tyres make.
7 mins left: Zhou, down in 17th, on fresh tyres, has just set the fastest lap. Shows what a new pair of boots can do for those who are battling with fading tyres. Hamilton is right behind Ocon but still can’t get past into 4th. Perez is less than a second behind Leclerc. My guess is he’ll breeze past him within a lap or two. Alonso pits.
We’ve completed 23 laps. In you’re interested.
9 mins left: For those asking about laps, I honestly have no idea. We’re dealing in minutes as it became a timed race. My guess is there are about 4/5 to go.
10 mins: Perez is gaining on Leclerc by a second a lap. According to the graphics he’ll be within striking distance in 2 laps. That’s for 2nd place.
Updated
12 mins left: A few drivers have pitted, but none of them are competing for points. Heading in for needed new tyres would consign those in the points to an empty haul. Hamilton is desperate to take 4th but Ocon won’t budge. He’s managed to shake off the Brit and has more breathing room than he’s had for the last 3 laps or so. Maybe that’s that. Or maybe Hamilton is waiting for one final shot. Russell has pulled off another stunning move, going round the outside of Latifi. He’s up to 9th.
14 mins left: Leclerc still holds the fastest lap. Perez might be on his heels soon. He’s around 3.5 seconds behind but closing in. Hamilton is wheel to wheel with Ocon but once again it’s no dice. Great defensive work from Ocon. Really good driving. That’s as close as Hamilton’s been.
18 mins left: Will be 13 points for the win. Leclerc would have to drop back 5 places for Verstappen to win the title here. Everyone, barring the race leader, seems to be struggling with their front tyres. Leclerc more than most, though, but he won’t want to pit.
Hamilton could reach out and touch the back of Ocon’s car in 4th but he just doesn’t have the speed. Every time he puts himself in a position to overtake he can’t make it stick.
20 mins left: 10 seconds now separates Verstappen in first and Leclerc in second. Five saeconds further back is Perez but both 2nd and 3rd are easing on their pace, opting to conserve their tyres. Russell has completed a stunning move past Tsunoda, going round the outside of an arcing corner. He likes it himself. “That was a nice move,” he tells his team. It was. Good work George, you’re into 9th.
22 mins left: Tyre changes might be necessary. An estimated 13 laps to go. Almost everyone is having issues with their front tyres. Perez and Leclerc – who was 1.4 seconds slower than Verstappen in that last lap – have taken their foot off the gas. No one will want to pit. Ocon holding off Hamilton who doesn’t have the straight line speed to pass, but is keeping pace. That’s for fourth place.
Updated
24 mins left: What a sport. Now that the track is drying out in places, it seems as if some drivers are having to nurse their tyres and therefore losing time. Russell is within touching distance of Tsunoda. Not enough straight line speed (a perpetual problem for Mercedes this year).
26 mins left: Russel is shaping up to pass Tsunoda. That’s a battle for 10th. Hamilton is less than a second behind Ocon. Verstappen pulling away from Leclerc, that gap is now over 6 seconds, almost 7 in fact.
28 mins left: Schumacher is haemorrhaging positions. He’s down to 10th. Verstappen and Lecelerc are currently going 2 seconds a lap faster than anyone else. They’re “in a league of their own” as the commentators have just said. Hamilton, though, is in the 1.45s and lapping almost as quick as the leaders. He’s 5th and eyeing up Ocon.
Ocon gets past Schumacher into 4th. Hamilton tries to capitalise and takes a dart. He goes round outside on the final corner. Schumacher is the only one out there on full wets and it’s telling. He’s sliding down the order. Good move from Hamilton.
So we’re dealing in minutes, rather than laps. There are 32 left. Verstappen out in front. Lecelerc 4 seconds behind. Hamilton is up to 6th. It’s all so chaotic. Our live feed went still but we’re back. Hard to know how the rain is playing up. Stay with us. We’ll figure this out together.
Meanwhile, Vettel and Latifi, who pitted straight away for intermediate tyres, almost came together in the pit lane, though, and the stewards have noted a potentially unsafe release. No ramifications, though.
There’s team work happening with Perez operating as a second driver hanging back to give Verstappen space. He doesn’t even seem to be trying, speed wise.
The track has definitely dried out in places. Still some wet patches, mostly wet if we’re honest. But we’re back up and running and the safety car will go into the pits.
Worth revisiting the order:
1 Verstappen
2 Leclerc
3 Perez
4 Ocon
5 Hamilton
6 Alonso
7 Russell
8 Riccardio
9 Tsunoda
10 Schumacher
11 Stroll
12 Magnussen
13 Norris
14 Bottas
15 Latifi
16 Vettel
17 Zhou
18 Gasly
OUT: Albon, Sainz
We have just under an hour to complete the race. We need at least 2 laps that are no behind a safety car to award points. If we get to lap 16 we can award 13 for a win. If we get half the amount of laps it’ll be 19 for a win.
Not sure how many we will get but at least we’ll get some. Although, we’ve been here before. An hour ago (or a week, time has lost meaning) the drivers got in their cars but had to hop out again.
Fingers crossed this is a legitimate restart.
The race will resume in 10 minutes!!
WOW! Take a look at this.
I once heard someone liken aquaplaning to sitting on a lounge chair that has been shot from a cannon across a frozen lake. You’re helpless as you hope for the best. Scary stuff.
THIS IS FUCKING SCARY U GUYS 😭 I’m just glad Carlos is safe! pic.twitter.com/0hTJVgWLkf
— trix • C² (@smoothlikecs55) October 9, 2022
Mario Isola, the motorsport director at Pirelli, believes we could start with full wets. But that would cause so much water to spray in the faces of the drivers in the rear and they wouldn’t be able to see.
I’m no expert but even I know that seeing is a key component to driving (despite the evidence of so many drivers on public roads every Sunday).
Lots of shrugging on the screen right now. That’s just the problem with open tyre cars. There’s not much we can do.
Feel for this guy as well. It’s been three years without a grand prix for the Japanese public. Covid and all that. They’ve been desperate to welcome back the F1 community and this fella must have dreamed of this day his whole life (admittedly, he is only 22).
Still. What a bummer. Is there any sport made better by intense rain?
A ray of sunshine in the rain 🌞#JapaneseGP @yukitsunoda07 pic.twitter.com/mIROzs2StS
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
Well now. According to the team on Sky, it is getting lighter in the distance. But that’s just the eyeball exam. Those with access to radar, ie, the team directors et al, they’re not confident.
Horner on the wet tyres:
The problem with the full wets is it is a survival tyre, but there’s no performance in it. So the teams are pushing to get on the intermediates, but it’s about surviving on them. The performance between the tyres is too great.
We’ve been lucky so far [avoiding a major accident]. Thankfully all the drivers are in one piece and it was the right decision to red flag the race.
It’s tough. It’s going to start getting dark shortly. it’s showing no signs of letting up. It’s just a massive shame for all these fans sitting in the pouring rain, but safety does come first.
If we don’t get going, which we almost certainly won’t, Verstappen will have to wait until the 23rd October at least to lift his second championship. Even if Leclerc wins it and takes the fastest lap, Verstappen would just have to finish 6th in Austin.
Updated
Christian Horner weighs in:
It’s totally unacceptable. We lost Jules Bianchi here. That should never, ever happen. There needs to be a full investigation on why there was a recovery vehicle on the track when visibility was zero. It’s extremely dangerous.
The virtual safety car was brought in for a reason. There just needs to be a full investigation why that vehicle was on track. It shouldn’t have been.
Without all the facts it’s hard to comment on why the vehicle was on the track. I think allow the FIA to [complete their investigation].
Visibility is just horrendous. Even Max in the front is struggling to see.
It appears from videos that there was a recovery vehicle on track while cars were still out there. Gasly seems to have passed it just before the red flag. After what happened in Japan with Bianchi in 2014, the drivers will be asking serious questions about that of race control
— Andrew Benson (@andrewbensonf1) October 9, 2022
Gasly has been summoned by the race stewards for “reaching speeds up to 250km/h when completing the lap under the red flag after passing the scene of the incident”
This is proving to be such a polarising debate but I genuinely can’t see how the driver is at fault. He couldn’t see a thing!
He will go to the headmaster’s office after the race.
Updated
“If the Japanese GP isn’t finished does Verstappen get the trophy & the champagne?”
He won’t, Kurt Perleberg. If they don’t start, which McLaren’s team principal, Andreas Seidl, thinks is most likely, then no points awarded and the wait continues, until the United States on the 23rd October.
Morning Rebecca Leath-Bowers. Thanks for sending this correspondence:
“My 8 month old son and I are watching from the uk. We’ve had our papayas for breakfast so bet you can’t guess what team we support. We are happy to watch Formula 1 whatever the time or the weather.”
My son is 19 months old. I remember that first year where my sleep patterns were thrown out the window. If there is one advantage it’s your ability to wake up early and watch sport in different parts of the world.
Silver linings, but when coffee won’t do, you’ll cling to anything.
Oh, and papaya? Guessing your favourite team is in orange?
“I think it’s preposterous given the conditions, that a recovery vehicle was on track when the FIA was about to abort the race anyway. If their response continues to be shifting blame on Pierre Gasly, it’s a slap in the face to the memory of Bianchi. They need to take responsibility, he’s right to be furious. The FIA are making their decisions from a warm office sitting stationary. Gasly is making his going over 100km an hour with no visibility.”
I’m with you Zak Kline. And so is Lando Norris:
Wtf. How’s this happened!? We lost a life in this situation years ago. We risk our lives, especially in conditions like this. We wanna race. But this… Unacceptable.
— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) October 9, 2022
The race time clock has resumed. What that means is we’ve gone past the hour mark since the race should have started. We now have a time limit. We have to be done by 5pm local time. It’s currently 3:27 as I type. It’s not looking great.
Updated
“Hello Daniel. Spent the whole week listening to people in Europe complain about waking up late for this race which was funny give I used to stay up at 12.15 back in to watch every Champions League game in India. Now I’m in San Diego and it’s a cool Saturday night 10 pm race start. How the tables have turned!”
Not just the tables, Sanchit Sabhlok, that’s the world turning as well.
Take that flat-Earthers!
Strong words from Gasly. He should have slowed down, I think we can agree on that, but he’s got a point here and we shouldn’t ignore that.
“I could have killed myself, why is there a tractor out there?!” Pierre Gasly is rightly furious #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/Xg2QCahr60
— Sam Sage (@samuelsagef1) October 9, 2022
The Sky team are really emphasising the ‘Gasly incident’ and you know what, they’re right to do so.
It’s tricky. There was a red flag and if he was going too fast then of course he needs to account for himself, but with this visibility (or lack of, as I should say) there shouldn’t be anything on the track that isn’t a safety car or a Formula 1 car. I totally get why he’s livid.
This narrative will run.
“Morning!”
Hi Karen Brigden.
“I asked my son to wake me up before the start of the race, which he did at 4am. I’ve had 3 cups of tea, and watched the tail-end of the Moon -Jupiter conjunction but sadly no racing.
“How long until I can go back to bed without fear of missing any racing?”
Beats me, Karen. But I applaud your commitment (and that of your son). With all that caffeine I’m not sure you’ll get back to sleep. Might as well stay with me and hope the rain subsides.
As gutted as you are, spare a thought for the fans who have braved the wet and are sticking with it.
Dedication 🤝 Suzuka fans
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
😍#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5XLHZRTbTW
Alexander Albon says he “doesn’t know why we were racing”, even though he’s out because of a gearbox failure.
To be honest, the spray of the circuit… it’s a tricky one, but conditions like this are dangerous.
On the recovery vehicle:
We’ve already talked about it. It’s already happened in Singapore. Seb (Vettel) brought it up in the driver’s briefing. It is really dangerous."
“October is the wettest month of the year in Japan.”
So says Kurt Perleberg. I sympathise with the boffins who schedule the calendar but if that is indeed accurate, and I’ll take Kurt at his work without doing any further research, then we do have to wonder why this has been structured in this manner.
Perhaps there was no way around it? Perhaps it makes sense on other metrics (air travel, etc) but it is incredibly frustrating.
Updated
It’s important to remember what happened here in 2014 when Jules Bianchi lost his life after his Marrussia collided with a tractor crane that was clearing away another car.
That is why Pierre Gasly was so upset earlier. There was another vehicle on the track seeing to Carlos Sainz’s car. Gasly was incredibly angry, remonstrating with his team in the pit lane. The stewards have suggested that he was partly at fault, driving too fast under a red flag. But still, it’s not a good look when other vehicles are on the track and no doubt the Bianchi incident has playing in his mind.
Here’s Carlos Sainz:
To be honest I’m not too worried. The conditions were pretty much impossible with visibility.
As soon as I got out of the slipstream I had more water and started aquaplaning. It’s down to luck. You’re just praying for anyone not to hit you.
Maybe the best would have been a rolling start with extremes (tyres). But then everyone complains that Formula 1 doesn’t race in the wet.”
[sad face]
Rain falling heavily 😫#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/4v96UJ22Sp
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
NOOOOOO! The restart has been suspended. More rain. The cars were just about ready to go, the grid trolleys, the generators, the gazebos above the cars, everything had been packed away.
But at the last possible minute, the restart has been suspended. Now the drivers are climbing back out.
Must have been something scary on the radar.
Updated
All the drivers have to start with wet tyres. Makes sense. It’s still raining and there is a lot of water on the track.
4 minutes to go.
The drivers are clambering back in their vehicles. It’ll be a rolling start in the wet with one lap behind the safety car. We need at least two laps without one for this to be a race.
“Hi Daniel I gotta a question do you think max Verstappen has whats in him to become a racing god like senna or Schumacher? what are your thoughts?”
Hi Ritvik Pradeep. Great question. Yes, I do. Two reasons. His car is immense and I don’t see that changing any time soon. Even if other cars manage to challenge him in the future, Red Bull will always provide him with a machine capable of winning races.
And he has that look, that appetite, that desire to stand on podiums. The way he outmuscled Leclerc to the first corner, the way he isn’t afraid to push the boundaries (as he did in qualifying here) is a testament to his insatiable desire to win races, to lift titles, to break records. I have no doubt he’ll retire as a titan of the sport.
Good news! We’re back in 15 minutes.
It’ll be a rolling start, but we’ve got a race coming up.
“Daniel. I have 2 questions for you.
1: When will F1 have an American driver?
2: Will Andretti F1 ever come to fruition for 2024?”
Kurt Perleberg, I have two answers, but they’re both the same. In truth, I don’t know, but that’s not satisfactory, is it. So I’ll do my best:
McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown had this to say recently: “The talents are there, the resources are there. It’s really about when and where they get started and to get into Formula One.
“The traditional route is you start in carts in Europe and you work your way up through the European Junior formulas, and we don’t have enough American drivers.”
So it’s a pipeline issue.
As for the second question, Mario Andretti is “confident” he’ll have a team in 2024. But the deadline is encroaching.
New engine regulations for 2026 are expected to trigger the arrivals of Audi and Porsche. That could change things of course.
Replays on Sky from the start. Verstappen had a clunky getaway but he had the racing line – interestingly on the outside of the track into the first corner – which meant he could scamper away in the lead.
Other replays show how hard it was for the drivers to see. So much spray kicked up from the drivers in front. Honestly, how do these guys do this? Unreal.
Updated
“Morning Daniel”
Hi Em Jackson from Newcastle. Good thing we woke up early, eh?
“Re: track designs as “a kid” (8-80?) - not just a bridge either! A cross-under tunnel section, a spiral hill climb section, an island where drivers can choose to go left or right side into a long curve and of course, my “F1 season” contained a point to point race e.g. Edinburgh to Glasgow & back or Edmonton to Calgary one way.”
I love this correspondence. Thanks Em. Did you also play that game where you flick a pen/pencil and try to work your way around the track?
We officially haven’t had a race yet. There needs to be at least two completed laps with no safety car. It’s bucketing down and if we don’t get going again there won’t be any points scored. What a shame. The sell-out crowd look miserable under waterproof jackets but no doubt they’re soaked.
If we can get two laps in, the winner will get 6 points, down to 1 in 5th. If we get to the end of lap 27, the winner will claim 13 down to 1 for ninth. If we get more than 50% but up to 75% (up to lap 40), it’s 19 for the victory down to 1 up to 10th. Anything more than that and it’s a full quota of points.
Did you get all that?
It’s largely irrelevant now. It’s lashing at the minute.
Speaking of Daniel Ricciardo, he’s up to 8th from 11th. He’s the biggest winner after the red flag.
Updated
“A 1000 bucks on Hamilton to win. Anyone?”
Well Edwin Innih Imoesi, according to one betting agency, you’d claim 8,000 bucks if he does. Ands you know what, with all this wet, that wouldn’t be the worst gamble. Not that I am encouraging anyone to part with their money.
“Hi Daniel. To make the McLarens faster why don’t they simply put larger wheels on the rear ? ... that way they would always be racing downhill”
Like a monster truck, Rags Magone?
“Hey Daniel! Great having you follow the race for us. What do you think is Danny Ric’s next step now that he’s out of a seat?”
Thanks Nikhil Gopakumar. Great to be here. Standing water on the track now so this might be a lengthy delay. The drivers are hopping out of their cars.
On to your question. Wow, I’m not getting any easy ones this morning. Who’s to say, mate. Whatever happens to him I hope to see him back in the sport. He’s clearly a talent and a big character. It’s a shame he hasn’t quite made it work. Maybe some time away will do him good. He doesn’t think he’ll be back for 2023:
Red flag
Albon’s gearbox failed on him and Sainz aquaplaned in the rain. The rain is getting heavier so Race Control have waved the red. Visibility is an issue. Disappointing, but it makes sense.
Updated
Sainz and Albon retire
Lap 1/53: Leclerc gets away faster than Verstappen but the champion elect has the line into the first corner and holds the lead at the inaugural bend. We’ve got a safety car. It’s a Ferrari in the barrier! Who is it? It’s Sainz. What a shame, that’s the third time this season he won’t see the third lap of a race. Albon is out as well. We expected carnage up fron and we got it. Is Vettel out as well? No, he’s recovered after touching Alonso.
Updated
Hold your breath. They’re all there. Here we go!
Have a gander at this. That’s proper wet.
Formation lap 👉👉👉
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
It's wet here at Suzuka! #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/iVZ03Scx4d
The formation lap is underway. Big plumes of water behind the cars. It seems to be getting wetter. Not sure if any of the drivers will duck in for full wets.
Yup, intermediates across the grid.
The last two times Verstappen has driven here, he’s collided with a Ferrari. What a stat just dropped on Sky. He’s sharing the front row with a crimson stallion.
We’re taking a look at the track layout on the Sky feed. Can I just say how cool it is having a circuit that loops over itself? As a kid, whenever I drew my own tracks (did you do that as well?) I made sure to design a few that crisscrossed. There’s something so childlike about it. Know what I mean? I love it.
A few puddles about with rain still falling. That’s causing a few folks to scratch their heads. Intermediates? No? Yes? Maybe?
George Russell said he was worried they wouldn’t last too long of the rain does let off. That’s the game, eh? My guess is the rain won’t let off so intermediates seem to be the way to go. But it’s such a gamble. What do you reckon?
Riffing off of Lokesh’s correspondence, here’s Lewis Hamilton on the budget caps while we wait:
We’ve got 13 minutes to go. Lando Norris is smiling that youthful smile (I’m constantly baffled that these fellas are racing around at the speed of light at their age. Needless to say, I was doing nothing of the sort when I was 22).
He’s shrugged off questions around Verstappen’s tomfoolery which saw him reprimanded after an incident in qualifying. Much ado ‘bout nothing, then.
“Good Morning Daniel
What would be two things you could suggest a Mclaren fan to look forward to next season? (We haven’t had much this year to be honest!)
Thank you for the lively commentary!”
Hi Lokesh Anand. Phew, that’s a tough question. You’re right, it hasn’t clicked this year, has it?
Team principal Toto Wolff has suggested a lighter chassis – which was being developed for this year but they ran out of budget – could help for 2023. But like he said, “To turn the ship in this industry is a little bit like an oil tanker.” He did however guarantee that they’ll be competitive next campaign.
What would you do. Keep in mind though that the spending budget is being slashed again. It was $145m, cut to $140 and will be reduced to $135.
Fancy more Giles Richards and Max Verstappen? What a combo that is, by the way.
Here’s our main man on the sport’s main man as told by another main man. Still with me?
Don’t worry about all that. Just feast your eye’s on this cracking piece:
Should mention the weather, shouldn’t I? It’s heaving down in Suzuka and it doesn’t look like it’ll stop (according to the one app I’ve looked at). It’s brollies and jackets all around. Should provide something spicy through those first few corners.
Mercedes have look strong in the wet so keep an eye on Lewis Hamilton from 6th.
See ya later, champ. I’ll admit, I’ve always had a real soft spot for this guy. No doubt he’ll continue to contribute to the sport. What a hero!
One final time at Suzuka 😟#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/2xXVbWOZiV
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
Here’s what Max needs to do to lift the title today:
Will Sunday's #JapaneseGP be the day @Max33Verstappen secures championship number two? ✌️ pic.twitter.com/gIN1QY6aOi
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 8, 2022
“Morning Daniel”
Good morning Trevor Miller, glad to have you on board.
“Why has a German Grand Prix disappeared from the F1 Calendar?”
That’s a great question. I’ve read reports that suggest interest in the sport has waned without a serious title contender, others pointing to the economics, with a few citing covid and the pitfalls of the pandemic as a major factor. Ultimately it comes down to willpower, both from the F1 overlords and those within Germany with an interest in putting on a show.
I did find this from a blog:
The expected Porsche and Audi Formula 1 entries could be key to the revival of the German Grand Prix, although Sebastian Vettel has doubts the race will return.
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Verstappen has happy memories of Suzuka. This is where he introduced himself to Formula 1 as a 17-year-old with stars in his eyes.
Giles goes back in time and unpacks the making of a great:
Here’s how they’ll line up:
1 Verstappen (Red Bull)
2 Leclerc (Ferrari)
3 Sainz (Ferrari)
4 Perez (Red Bull)
5 Ocon (Alpine)
6 Hamilton (Mercedes)
7 Alonso (Alpine)
8 Russell (Mercedes)
9 Vettel (Aston Martin)
10 Norris (McLaren)
11 Ricciardo (McLaren)
12 Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
13 Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
14 Zhou (Alfa Romeo)
15 Schumacher (Haas)
16 Albon (Williams)
17 Gasly (AlphaTauri)
18 Magnussen (Haas)
19 Stroll (Aston Martin)
20 Latifi (Williams)
Surely Verstappen will sweep to a world championship title today. Here’s Giles Richards’ report on how we got to the top of the grip:
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Preamble
53 laps. That’s what separates Max Verstappen from another Formula 1 title. He has been blisteringly quick this year, breezing past his rivals, eating up tracks around the world, laying down a marker as the dominant force in his sport. You wouldn’t bet against him finishing the job here, would you?
He couldn’t do it last time out in Singapore as his teammate Sergio Perez claimed victory, but that has merely delayed the inevitable. Verstappen has simply been untouchabel for most of the campaign, winning 11 races, standing on 13 podiums, securing a haul of 341 points, 104 more than his closest rival.
He’s on pole in Suzuka, a venue that has seen 12 title-deciding races. it is one of the most iconic venues in Formula 1. It’s also the venue where Verstappen made his debut as a 17-year-old, racing for Toro Rosso in 2014.
Sains is third, one place behind his Ferrari partner Charles Leclerc who will be adamant to make Verstappen wait a little longer to place the crown on his head. To do that, he’ll need to finish with eight points of the championship leader.
My name is Daniel. I’m thrilled to be here with you. Drop me a mail or a Tweet if you fancy.
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