How can Max Verstappen seal the title at the Japanese GP?


How can Max Verstappen seal the title at the Japanese GP?

Max Verstappen (IMAGO / ANP)

Max Verstappen has completely dominated Formula 1 this season. While Ferrari have challenged on many occasions, they have often fallen short, mostly through their own mistakes. But since the player break, there is absolutely no doubt about the best team and the best driver: Hands down, it’s Red Bull and Verstappen.

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They have been so dominant in fact, that Verstappen had opportunity to seal the WDC in Singapore itself, even if it was a rather hard ask. But it did not work out for him last time out, with him being on the back foot after an error in qualifying from Red Bull. He eventually recovered to finish P7.

It was his overtakes in the final few laps, one on Lewis Hamilton and the other on Sebastian Vettel that have once again put him in a position to seal the title early, this time with 4 races to go in the season. So what are the requirements?

Also Read: ‘Underneath calm and serene 2022 Max 2.0 still quite a temper’: Martin Brundle feels Max Verstappen’s radio rant shows his passion for the sport

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Helmut Marko: ‘Better for Max Verstappen to seal the title in Japan [than other places]’

Left to right: Max Verstappen, Christian Horner, Helmut Marko, Sergio Perez, Adrian Newey (IMAGO / Motorsport Images)
Left to right: Max Verstappen, Christian Horner, Helmut Marko, Sergio Perez, Adrian Newey (IMAGO / Motorsport Images)

Max Verstappen currently sits 104 points clear of Charles Leclerc on top of the standings. These 104 points, plus the 8 from the sprint race brings the total number of points available in the championship after Suzuka to 112. Even if Leclerc magically recovers the 112 points in the final four races, he will still lose the championship because of having fewer wins.

So what does The Dutchman need to do in the race? If Leclerc wins the race, then there is obviously no sealing the title this weekend. At a minimum, Verstappen needs to outscore the Ferrari driver by 8 points to seal the title in Japan. The ‘simplest’ way to do this is win the race with the fastest lap while Leclerc finishes second, but there are also other scenarios.

Even if Max Verstappen finishes sixth, the championship could be finished – if Leclerc isn’t in the points, and Sergio Perez is not at least P8. If the title protagonist wins without the fastest lap, then Leclerc must finish third for him to seal the title. Sealing the title in Japan is something Red Bull are looking forward to. Helmut Marko revealed that it would be better to win the title in Japan, as per RacingNews365.

“From a marketing point of view, winning the title would be better in Japan [than in Singapore or other places], because of our engine partner Honda. But in general we can assume that Max will be World Champion. It’s just a question of when.”

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Indeed, as Dr. Marko said, the championship is all but over. Even Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz agree that the best thing for Ferrari is to use the last few races as a ‘testing ground’ to perfect their execution of the race, something they have quite struggled with this year. In 2023, we start all over again.

Also Read: “Max shot past me like an arrow,” Sebastian Vettel talks about getting overtaken by Max Verstappen on final lap of Singapore GP

Also Read: “Massively frustrating call for the whole team,” Christian Horner dwells on Red Bull’s error that cost Max Verstappen P1