2022 Japanese Grand Prix Race Predictions: Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc to ‘collide’ on Lap 1
Follow Us
Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen
The Japanese GP has been one of the most awaited races in the calendar after being out for 2 years due to COVID. With the 2022 F1 season, fans got to experience a new era of the sport where we also got to see two different title contenders. Seeing Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc compete for a world championship was what people had anticipated from the start and now it’s finally turned into a reality.
A total of 13 driver’s championships and a record 9 constructors championships have been won at the Japanese GP. In FP1, many of the teams skipped participation but FP2 saw some interesting developments that have to be dealt with. FP3 was where the true pace of the cars was determined whereas an interesting qualifying session set the precedent for tomorrow. With Max Verstappen on pole position and Charles Leclerc beside him on the front row, it’s all to play for.
The Japanese GP will most probably be a wet race with a chance of rain now 96 percent as the lights go out at 2pm local. This will make the race more interesting and be an invitation for multiple drivers to make mistakes. Considering the recent developments that have taken place during the race weekend, here are my three bold predictions for the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix which will take place at the Suzuka circuit on Sunday.
Also read : Serena Williams VS Valentino Rossi : Which sporting legend has a higher net worth in 2022?
Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen to COLLIDE on Lap 1
A crash that could define the title. With Max and Charles lined up alongside each other on the front row for tomorrow’s race, it almost seems inevitable that the two title contenders will collide like Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost did in the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix. There also lies the Lap 1 crash between the Red Bull and Ferrari drivers in the 2019 where the Dutch driver further went on to retire from the race. Leclerc finished the race in 6th and basically compromised Max’s race. A repetition of these events is a major possibility ahead of tomorrow’s race.
Mercedes will win the Japanese GP with Lewis Hamilton
Having not won a race all year round, it seems to be the end of Lewis Hamilton’s record of winning a F1 race in every season that he has competed in. Unless this all changes at the rain soaked Japanese GP. Similar to Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton is known for his wet weather drivers and could pull another one of those tomorrow. Mercedes on the other hand has a 100% winning record at the Japanese Grand Prix in the turbo hybrid era.
A double points finish for Alfa Romeo
Whenever there is a dramatic wet weather grand prix, there is a high possibility of both the Alfa Romeo drivers finishing in the points. This prediction is inspired from the 2019 German GP where both Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi finished in the points but unfortunately got struck with post race penalties. Although I expect the Sauber boys to excel tomorrow. Hopes and prayers lie for Zhou as he always seems to retire from the race with a problem when he has a realistic chance to get a points finish.
With all being said, my predictions are a bit odd but that’s the beauty of it. When you get a wet race, you have to expect the unexpected. Fortune favours the bold and I hope that we get to witness a safe race tomorrow. All eyes will be on Max Verstappen at the front for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix. The best is yet to come. Who do you think will win the Japanese GP?
Read More: “Any conversations around buying McLaren is a non-starter” : Zak Brown
Stay Updated!
Varad Joshi
(940 Articles Published)