Verstappen looks to crown himself in ‘Honda territory’

Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), which may have already sentenced him last Sunday in Singapore, where his teammate Sergio Perez of Mexico won. We have a second chance to mathematically score the Formula One World Cup this weekend, at the Japanese Grand Prix. It takes place in Suzuka. It’s a circuit owned by his team’s bikers, Honda.

Verstappen holds other combinations but should have won first, could only celebrate his 25th birthday (last Friday) at Marina Bay, finishing 7th in the toughest race of the season. The test is hot and humid (Singapore is only 150 kilometers from the equator) and features a narrow, winding route. And that was made even more complicated by the deluge that fell before it on the asphalt that never dried completely.

Postpone ‘Mad Max’ celebrations – Winner of 11 of 17 contested races, leading the World Cup with 341 points, 104 more than Monaco’s Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – Red Bull in Singapore Celebrated the Czech Republic. Contest, 106 points behind his partner.

Born 31 years ago in Guadalajara (Jalisco), Sergio has had considerable exhibitionism in difficult conditions at Marina Bay, taking his fourth victory in Formula 1, his third with his current team and his second of the season. did. Done in Monaco.

Mexican wins ahead of Leclerc and other Ferraris, Carlos Sainz – signing his 14th podium in the premier class – becomes only the second driver in history since four-time German world champion Sebastian Vettel to win the two most important city circuits on the calendar in 2011. Now: The streets of Monte Carlo and Marina Bay. After two years of absence due to the pandemic, the already traditional night race is back. First appearance in 2008.

Fernando Alonso, that year’s first winner and repeat winner in 2010, had some bad luck in Singapore this time.after being outstanding all weekend, he finished qualifying fifth, but had to leave due to new reliability problems in his Alpine. Like two days ago in Monza (Italy), we had a problem with the engine.

The two-time world champion from Asturias celebrated two of his 32 victories in F1 in Japan. “Favorite circuit” Suzuka hopes for good luck this weekend with another grand prix that, like last weekend, has been absent from the calendar for the past two seasons due to the devastating effects of covid-19.

Suzuka will be a 5,807-meter technical track with 18 curves and 53 laps to complete the 307.4-kilometer route., next Sunday. But first, free practices are held. It will begin on Friday, the night from Thursday to Friday this week in Central European time, and will be completed on Saturday, hours before qualifying, which will determine the starting line-up for Sunday’s race. .

In the dry, the Japanese circuit runs tires from the hardest range of compounds: C1 – hard, recognizable by the white stripe, C2 – medium, yellow stripe, C3 – soft, red.

The Japanese Grand Prix was first held at Fuji in 1976.hosted the last race of the yearcontested under a monsoon deluge to decide the title in favor of Britishman James Hunt, at the expense of Austrian Niki Lauda, ​​who suffered a brutal injury a few weeks ago at Germany’s Nürburgring. A fully recorded test and epic sports duel in the cinema of the sensational film “Rush”.

Since then, it has always been held at Suzuka, with the exception of another 3 of the 35 times it has been part of the F1 World Championship.

No player has won more in Japan than Germany’s Michael Schumacher (6 times)only Englishman Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), who two years ago equaled the Kaiser’s seven world titles and won this Grand Prix five times, and Germany’s Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) are close to him and Japan’s Recorded four hits on land. .

Alonso and Sir Lewis are the only drivers to win this Grand Prix at both Fuji and Suzuka.the last winner three years ago was former Mercedes member Finn Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo).

Red Bull celebrating Constructors’ World Cup achievements, except for true tragedy and thanks to ‘Czech’ spectacular contributionVerstappen’s title reconfirmation party has already been outlined.

The ideal environment: his motorcyclist, Honda house, who has just strengthened his relationship with him, his name will be next year bodywork for his car and bodywork for Alpha Tauri (ex-Toro Rosso), his Appears on the “second” equipment. .

As the Austrian team celebrates the captain’s second big party this Sunday, ‘Mad Max’ has to add 8 points more than Leclerc and 6 points more than ‘Czech Republic’ at Suzuka.

There are several combinations (6th among them, Monaco does not score, Mexico does not move up to 8th). Dutch fan idol wins race with fastest lap.

If Max Verstappen doesn’t restore the title to his name and surname without question next Sunday, there are four more tests left before the World Cup is over.

After Japan, F1 is coming to AmericaThe American Grand Prix takes place in Austin, Texas, one week before the Mexican Grand Prix at the Hermanos Rodriguez Autodrome in the Mexican capital on October 30th. his idol triumphs.

Interlagos in São Paulo will host the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 13th. This comes just a week before Yas Marina hosts the final Grand Prix of the season, the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.