Verstappen clinches world championship in rain-shortened Japanese Grand Prix · RaceFans

Max Verstappen has been declared 2022 Formula 1 world champion after winning a rain-shortened Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

After an accident at the start led to the race being red flagged for over two hours, the race eventually resumed with Verstappen winning by almost half a minute. Charles Leclerc finished second on track but was handed a five second time penalty after the race which moved him behind Sergio Perez into third.

With full points awarded despite only just over half of original race distance having been completed, Verstappen clinched his second world championship title.

The field lined up on the grid on intermediate tyres for a standing start, with Pierre Gasly starting from the pit lane having changed parts on his AlphaTauri prior to the start. When the lights went out, Leclerc got a better getaway than Verstappen and was marginally ahead on the inside approaching turn one, but Verstappen held firm around the outside and kept the lead.

Visibility in the pack was close to zero. Eventually, Carlos Sainz Jnr aquaplaned off the road rounding turn 12 and crashed into the barrier. Fortunately, the field behind all managed to miss the Ferrari off on the left side of the track. Alexander Albon pulled off soon after passing the Ferrari with a loss of water pressure following earlier contact.

The Safety Car was deployed with Verstappen leading from Leclerc, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon. With drivers complaining of dangerously low visibility, the race was red flagged with all drivers returning to the pits.

Gasly had pitted on the opening lap with front wing damage and was infuriated to find a recovery vehicle on the track as he passed Sainz’s stricken Ferrari in the treacherous conditions. The stewards have placed Gasly under investigation for driving too quickly under red flag conditions.

There was a delay of over an hour and a half as race control waited for conditions to improve. Eventually, it was announced the race would resume with around 50 minutes of time remaining. The field took to the track again on full wet tyres, with the race eventually restarting finally with 40 minutes of time remaining.

Verstappen led away from Leclerc, Perez, Ocon and Lewis Hamilton in fifth. As the race resumed, Sebastian Vettel and Nicholas Latifi both pitted for intermediate tyres. After two laps of racing, it was clear that the intermediates were the quickest tyre to be on.

Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Hamilton, Ocon and Russell all pitted for intermediates, while…