The mess that gave Verstappen the title

What happened at the Suzuka Grand Prix will be the subject of debate for several days after organizers screwed it up and even confused Max Verstappen.

The Dutchman may mathematically have won the title after what happened, but given the facts, it will be a while before the dust settles on both key decisions by race officials.

Let’s take things from the beginning. Max Verstappen took the win easily and fairly as he basically didn’t feel threatened beyond the start.

The theme of notes

Since the rain did not allow the entire race to be held, everyone expected fewer points. In concrete terms, the first player should get 19 and not 25 points and so on.

As we explained to you in the special edition prepared by Yiannis Limnaios, in the end the judges decided to give full points, which still wasn’t enough for Max Verstappen to win the title as he didn’t have the fastest lap of the race.

Leclerc’s error and blitz penalty

But how did he finally get the title? Sergio Perez pushed Charles Leclerc as hard as he could to pass him on the final lap and eventually the Monegasque made a mistake, losing control of his car in the final chicane, resulting in him going straight on over the curbs.

What was impressive was not the fact that Leclerc ended up being penalized with a five-second penalty, but the speed with which the decision was made within minutes, leading to the chaos that ensued.

Even Verstappen was surprised

Max Verstappen left to make his usual post-race remarks and the trial continued as per protocol.

Somewhere inside it was revealed that Leclerc was penalized and Max Verstappen was informed that he had won the title. The Dutchman celebrated, but after a while he seemed surprised himself.

In particular, as the drivers prepared for the awards ceremony, Max Verstappen asked the organizers if they were sure. When he was assured that this was the case, the Dutchman was now allowed to celebrate.

All of this will ultimately generate plenty of conversation, not so much about Verstappen clinching the title after the Dutchman was threatened at one point in the season and then disappearing in front of the others, but traded via the FIA ​​route.

So wait until the next episodes of the series because there will be dates when Ferrari is already preparing its reaction.