MUST SEE: Verstappen and Perez Conversation After Japanese GP

confusion at the end Japanese F1 GP it was huge.do not have FIA or FOM They remained until minutes after Charles Leclerc’s penalty. Max Verstappen becomes championMany, including the team, thought that disputes alone would result in fewer points being distributed than usual. 29 laps, just over half the race, but the rules say that the rule applies only to suspended races. In the case of Japan, although the number of laps is less than usual, the car crossed the finish line because there was no stop Points awarded are the sameMax was first, Leclerc was third and Verstappen was the champion.

The Dutchman was made aware of this at the bottom of the track in a post-race interview and was very surprised. At the time, Max seemed to think he was still missing the points, not the champion yet. This is reflected in a memorable conversation he had in that room with “Czech” Perez and an employee of the organization who confirmed the news 100%.

whole conversation

– -Czech: “But are you a champion or not?

– Verstappen: “No” (laughs)

-Verstappen: “What happened? Did he block (Leclerc)? Did he block (overbraking at the final chicane)?

– Perez: “I was attacking him at the final chicane. He blocked and went straight back (on track). I was out.”

– Verstappen, watching TV and seeing Sainz’s accident: “He’s very lucky… (he was in the middle of the track with zero visibility)”.

– Perez: “Did you see anything behind Hamilton?”

– Verstappen: Yes… (pointing at TV). I couldn’t see anything! look!

– Perez: “Wow!”

-Verstappen: “Oh my God…”

– Perez: “Tow truck…”

– Verstappen: “Yes…”

They told Max Verstappen to sit on a chair in the next room and take a picture of the world champion.

– Verstappen: “But I…”

– Perez: ‘He’s there for world champions’

– Verstappen: “Yes, but no.”

-Verstappen: “No… so?

– Organization: “Yes, it’s you.”

– Verstappen looks surprised: “Are you sure?” Why do people keep telling me…”

・The photo was taken in the Champions Chair: “I’m a little lonely (laughs).”

After the race, Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko declared that he knew Verstappen was the world champion for public address systems. Because Max was celebrating his second championship and our strategist told us Max was one point behind him and that was a big surprise, really, nice It was a surprise.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says something is wrong with all the points being split in cases like this, even if it meant his driver had declared the champion at Suzuka. I thought. “I think it’s a mistake that something like that isn’t included after last year’s problem at Spa. Clearly the regulations are not sophisticated,” he told Motorsport.com.

“I was under the impression that only 75% (50%) of the distance traveled could add up all the points, so I thought I would miss points.”