‘The first one is emotional, the second one is more beautiful’: Verstappen says he ‘didn’t expect’ to seal 2022 world title at Japanese GP – as Red Bull driver admits confusion at points tally
- Verstappen said he was uncertain that he would be crowned world champion
- After the race was delayed, there were doubts over the exact point allocation
- The Red Bull driver was told mid-interview that he had been crowned champion
- Verstappen said it’s been a ‘special year’ that F1 driver’s ‘don’t have very often’
Max Verstappen claims he ‘didn’t expect’ to seal the 2022 world title at the Japanese Grand Prix after confusions arose over point allocation.
It was not immediately clear whether full points would be awarded for a race that ran just over half distance, after torrential rain had caused a two hour delay to proceedings.
However, Verstappen was crowned world champion after storming to victory in Suzuka and went on to assert that it’s been a ‘special year’ for the 25-year-old.
Max Verstappen was crowned the 2022 world champion after victory at the Japanese GP
He emerged from his car pumping his fists, despite uncertainties he’d won the championship
Verstappen was issued the win after Charles Leclerc was dealt a five-second time penalty
When talking to Sky Sports F1, Verstappen said: ‘The first one is a little more emotional, the second one is more beautiful. We’re leading the constructors so we want to focus on that, to secure that.’
‘It’s been a special year, and you need to remind yourself as these kind of years you don’t have very often. It’s a pretty crazy feeling, of course, because I didn’t expect it when I crossed the line.
‘Of course, you could see it slowly happening, but it’s incredible at the end of the day that we did win it here. I didn’t know how many points I was going to get.’
Confusion arose over point allocation on the day – as it was not immediately clear whether full points would be awarded for a race that ran just over half distance – as well as the impact that Charles Leclerc’s five-second penalty would have.
The Red Bull driver says he was unsure about how many points he would earn in Japan
A two hour delay meant fans, and drivers, weren’t certain about the allocations for the race
After the race, Verstappen needed to be told he had become the two-time Formula One world champion following Leclerc’s five-second penalty.
The Monegasque driver was issued a time sanction after the race, having cut a corner on the last lap as he tussled with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez for second place.
Perez’s post-race interview had to be interrupted as the news broke of Leclerc’s penalty, with Verstappen awkwardly being re-summoned by Sky Sports pundit Johnny Herbert to be told of his feat.
Many were unsure whether the Dutchman had done enough to seal the title – with even Verstappen asking: ‘Are you sure?’ when he was told he was champion.
There was confusion as to point allocations after the shortened race at Suzuka on Sunday
Elsewhere on the day, the FIA came under scrutiny after Pierre Gasly came perilously close to a serious accident as he narrowly missed a tractor that had emerged out on track.
The tractor had made it’s way onto the track at Suzuka to collect the stricken Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, however not all the drivers with in the pits yet.
Gasly himself took to the team radio to vent his frustration at the incident, in a chilling warning that was full of fury: ‘What is this? What is this tractor on track?! I passed next to it.
‘This unacceptable. Remember what has happened. Can’t believe this.’
Pierre Gasly hit out at the FIA after nearly colliding with a tractor during the race
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