Max Verstappen facing the title of world champion, episode 2. Despite a difficult last race in Singapore, the Dutchman has a new opportunity to officially win the title, Sunday October 9 at Suzuka, on the occasion of the Japanese Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver still has a good lead over Charles Leclerc (+104) and Sergio Pérez (+102), the last two drivers still mathematically in contention, and is getting ever closer to a double. Follow the leader.
Verstappen sacred if…
This time, Max Verstappen has his destiny in his hands. If last week in Singapore he had to count on a poor performance from his opponents, at Suzuka, the victory is enough to crown him. If successful with the fastest lap (25 + 1 points), the title would be officially acquired for the Dutchman.
He would then be at least 112 points ahead of his current runner-up, Charles Leclerc, and could no longer be overtaken. Indeed, after the Japanese event, there will only be four races left on the calendar, and a maximum of 112 points to be garnered (4 x 26 for four victories with the fastest lap in the race, plus the eight points for the sprint race in Brazil). His 11 victories this season, more than any other driver, give him the advantage over his competitors in the event of a tie on points.
Even without winning with the fastest lap, Verstappen can claim the title. He must then register eight points more than Charles Leclerc, and six more than his teammate. In this case, the combinations are numerous: Verstappen won without the fastest lap and his runner-up did no better than third, Verstappen finished second, Leclerc no better than fifth and Pérez no better than fourth… Finally, s he finishes beyond sixth place, he cannot be crowned this weekend, whatever the results of his opponents.
The defending champion will no doubt be keen to bend the debates definitively this weekend, on the lands of Honda, historic engine supplier of the Red Bull team in recent seasons, and after having already missed an opportunity. Otherwise, the outcome will be postponed until the next race weekend, in Austin, from October 21 to 23.