P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen F1 title confusion sparked by rain chaos at Suzuka
Max Verstappen’s 2022 F1 championship victory at the Japanese Grand Prix was unexpectedly surrounded by confusion and controversy due to unprecedented circumstances. Despite dominating the race and crossing the finish line first, neither he nor his team, Red Bull, nor rival Ferrari initially realized that he had secured his second world championship. The confusion stemmed from F1’s new points system regulations, triggered by rain delays and a complex interpretation of the rules by the FIA stewards. A near-miss incident involving Pierre Gasly added to the drama, as he encountered visibility issues while a recovery vehicle was on track, sparking fury from the French driver. Ultimately, Verstappen’s championship win at Suzuka was a culmination of unforeseen events and technicalities that caught the entire paddock off guard.
