Max Verstappen Takes Second Dramatic Championship as Confusing Rulebook Sends Fans in a Frenzy

After a lot of ifs, buts, and maybes, the Japanese GP race finally started and ended with Max Verstappen registering another win. With just 40 minutes of racing left in the Japanese GP, the wet track saw some action. The action that turned decisive in the driver’s championship title.

The win at the Suzuka Circuit, finally crowned Verstappen, the inevitable champion of the current season, the driver’s world champion. The Dutchman crossed the chequered flag with a 25+ second gap to runner-up Charles Leclerc. However, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez played his part yet again.

The Mexican, towards the end, pushed Leclerc into a corner and forced a mistake from the Monegasque. Leclerc exceeded the track limits during the bout with Perez, earning him a 5-second penalty. This five-second demoted Leclerc to a P3, which gave Verstappen the mathematical certainty to win his driver’s championship.

However, there was plenty of confusion because of the red flag incidents, if full points will be awarded from the race or not. However, a tweet from journalist Chris Medland cleared things up.

The tweet read, “If a race is suspended in accordance with Article 57, *and cannot be resumed* points for each title will be awarded in accordance with…” etc. We resumed the race, so according to the rules full points can be awarded. That makes Max champion.”

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Despite the confusion surrounding the rule, they rewarded full points effectively, making Verstappen the world champion.

The confusing rule that is making everyone question the championship of Max Verstappen

The confusion stemming from the rule itself got the entire F1 Twitter fanbase puzzled.

Verstappen being informed about his championship win in the post-race interview after Leclerc’s penalty sums up the confusion surrounding the whole situation.

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A fan said, “But how is Max Verstappen the world champion when he does not even know the rules because he thought that points would be cut for this race and yet they are not?”

Probably not as dramatic as the 2021 championship season, but the confusion surrounding the situation is definitely making the fans question the championship.