Award champion – Sport – Kommersant

Max Verstappen became world champion for the second time in a row. The Red Bull leader won the resulting crumpled Japanese Grand Prix, and that was enough to put him out of reach of his rivals. Comparing his two titles, Verstappen said the first was “emotional” while this one was “beautiful”. Fans of the Dutchman are unlikely to argue with him. The rest may note that there is nothing beautiful in the story, the denouement of which becomes obvious four chapters before the end. However, Verstappen is not to blame. He really dominated the season and it’s amazing how he didn’t secure the title earlier.

Max Verstappen arrived in Japan to claim his second title in a row. To become inaccessible to the pursuers, the Dutchman needed to win the race with the fastest lap. In this case, he could not pay attention to the results of competitors. Well, or just win it without a bonus point for the fastest lap and count on Ferrari leader Charles Leclerc not to take a place higher than third. Both options seemed very likely.

Most likely, few of the 150 thousand fans gathered in the stands of the Suzuka circuit expected to see something like a battle of the titans – the situation is not the same now. But they had hopes of witnessing an interesting race (and the rain seemed to make the upcoming event more intriguing). However, they did not materialize. The start was not bad: Leclerc almost overtook Verstappen from the start – the owner of the pole position – and seemed to be determined. But before two laps had passed, a series of departures began on the wet track, and the race was stopped. Waiting for the weather to return to the track stretched for more than two hours. In the end, all that the audience saw was a 40-minute sprint. There was no time left for more: according to the rules, the race cannot last more than three hours.

Verstappen won this segment with a clear advantage. There were a few laps where Leclerc tried to hold on to him, but as is often the case with Ferrari this season, the chase only killed the tires and Leclerc was forced to give up trying to force a fight. Yes, and he was busy – fighting off the second number of the “bulls” Sergio Perez. He fought back, but only in the heat of battle he left the track, which became one of the key moments of the race.

After the finish, the judges made two decisions. First, Leclerc is punished with a five-second penalty for the very cut of the turn. Thus, the Ferrari driver in the protocol moved to third place. The second is to give riders full points. But even Red Bull boss Christian Horner later admitted that everyone believed that only half of the points would be awarded: this is done when the duration of the race was more than 50% and less than 75% of the planned one. But as explained in the FIA, the regulations are not so simple. It turns out that the above rule applies to situations where the race was stopped or the finish happened behind the safety car. And since none of this happened, then the points are awarded in full.

So it turned out that Verstappen, having already got out of the car, told how sorry he was that he could not get the title in Japan, thanked the audience for not dispersing, was glad that the race took place at least in some form. And then it turned out that the speech needed to be changed urgently.

The Dutchman was informed that he was a two-time champion (there were not so many of them in history – seven, and those who won the championship three times or more – nine). And then he said that he was incredibly happy to win here, he said that it was incredible, he added that Honda (the supplier of Red Bull engines) would surely rejoice at such an outcome. And Verstappen, comparing his two titles, noted that the first, conquered in the last race of 2021 in an incredible confrontation with Lewis Hamilton, was very emotional. Well, this one is just beautiful.

The last statement is debatable. Indeed, it is difficult to find something beautiful in the championship, the winner of which is determined four stages before the end. It was worse only in 2002, when Michael Schumacher won the championship six stages before its completion. But the actual inevitability of the coronation of Verstappen became apparent by the end of August, after the Dutchman issued a series of five victories in a row. Not surprisingly, the same Leclerc did not look upset on Sunday, noting that everyone was well aware that it was only a matter of time before Verstappen won the title. After all, in fact, everything could have ended long before the Suzuki. If not for the two failures of Red Bull at the start of the season (in Bahrain and Australia, the engine simply could not stand the car), Verstappen could have become the champion in the summer.

However, those who say that beauty is in abundance in Verstappen’s triumph will be right. After all, why should he care about the problems of rivals (let the FIA ​​think about how to make racing more competitive). If Mercedes completely failed the transition to cars built according to the new regulations, and Ferrari simply deflated after a bright start, then all questions are for the leaders of these teams. Verstappen himself was, for the most part, flawless. What is at least the recent Belgian Grand Prix, where he started 14th, and finished first. Or how his demeanor on the track has changed.

Previously, Verstappen was often reproached for recklessness. Now he, remaining the same unyielding, calculates the consequences much better and does not go to extremes.

At the same time, the Dutchman almost never goes to the limit. He always has a reserve, which he uses as a trump card at the right time. Otherwise, he would not have won 12 victories in a season. More – 13 races in one championship – only Michael Schumacher (in 2004) and Sebastian Vettel (in 2013) won. There is almost no doubt that Verstappen will break their record. At least there are all the possibilities for this.

Alexander Petrov