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Today's Paper | October 19, 2024

Published 09 Oct, 2022 02:26pm

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins second Formula One title

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won his second Formula One world championship amid scenes of confusion on Sunday after Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc collected a five-second post-race penalty at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Dutch driver won the race at Suzuka, with Leclerc demoted from second to third behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez for cutting the final chicane while defending from the Mexican on the last lap.

Immediate confusion ensued over whether full points had been awarded after the shortened rain-hit race and whther the title would go down to the US Grand Prix on Oct. 23, but the FIA governing body confirmed the title was won.

“It’s a crazy feeling because I didn’t expect it when I crossed the line,” said Verstappen of his second successive crown.

Last year, Verstappen snatched the world championship away from Lewis Hamilton with a pass on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi GP. Mercedes filed two protests after the race.

“It’s just insane, I mean, my goal when I was little was to become a Formula One driver and to go for wins, to be on the podium,” Verstappen had said then. “When they play the national anthem, you want it to be yours and when you stand here and they tell you that you are the world champion, it’s something incredible and special.”

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