Max Verstappen already world champion Formula 1 2022 with four races to go
Verstappen: “We kept our cool”
For the second time in a row, Max Verstappen is Formula One world champion. In 2021 was the first time, in 2022 he managed to prolong his title. Verstappen: “We have definitely been at it all year. A season where we had a difficult start, but kept our cool, bounced back and never let up. Thank you so much to the whole team, everyone has worked tirelessly to get here and this is the ultimate reward.”
Still tense
Verstappen was a bit tense prior to the race in Japan anyway, he admits on his own press portal: “Today, because of the weather, because it was raining, I was thinking a little more. About what can happen at the start, about the tires, the strategy, whether there will be a red flag and so on. So I was thinking about it a little bit more. And GP (Max’s race engineer Gianpiere Lambiase) also said, ‘I can see from you that you are thinking more than normal.’ But, he also said, ‘Just do your thing.’ And I did, and then I’ll be fine, but sometimes I just want to think a little bit more about the situation.”
Max Verstappen thanks family
Max Verstappen continued: “To win the title here in Japan makes it extra special, thanks for everything Honda! A big thank you goes to my family, loved ones and management, they support me no matter what. To all the fans, many thanks for your incredible support, wherever we go, you are there! Absolutely amazing.”
Substantial lead built up
The Dutch Formula One driver has a whopping 366 points after the race in Japan. Teammate Sergio Perez is in second place with 253 points, followed by Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc with 252 points.
Further expanding advantage
The Formula One calendar has four races remaining. The Grand Prix of the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Adu Dhabi. Max Verstappen can then extend his lead even further, because Verstappen – now that he has his title in his pocket – is not expected to put in less effort. As always, he goes “to the max.
Constructor title Red Bull Racing
It has to, because Red Bull Racing can also still take the constructors’ title. So Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez have some work to do. Currently, Red Bull Racing is in first place with 619 points, followed by Ferrari with 454 points. That is already a sizeable lead that Red Bull Racing is not expected to relinquish. Whoever takes the constructors’ title as a team can count on a hefty reward from the F1 organization. That money in turn can be used by Red Bull Racing for future development and to pay the salaries of Verstappen and Perez.
Thirteen victories
Verstappen: “Eventually I want to win more races because with this car a lot is possible. It would be nice to get more than thirteen wins in one season, because I don’t think that’s going to happen very often, so you have to take advantage of that. And in the end, it’s just important that we win the constructors’ championship and we hope to finish one-two in the championship.”
More Formula One races in 2023
In total, the F1 2022 season consists of 22 races. There will be many more in 2023, as you can see from the official 2023 Formula One calendar. Then 24 races will be run.
Photography: Red Bull Content Pool