Max Verstappen has another chance to claim his second world title this weekend as Formula 1 returns to Suzuka for the first time since 2019 for the Japanese Grand Prix. The Red Bull star – 104 points clear of Charles Leclerc in the standings – will be crowned champion in Japan if he wins and sets the fastest lap on Sunday. Verstappen is looking to bounce back from a disappointing weekend in Singapore, finishing seventh while team-mate Sergio Perez won. Leclerc came second, with Carlos Sainz third. Lewis Hamilton also endured a difficult Sunday in the Singapore rain, finishing ninth after crashing into the barriers, while Mercedes team-mate George Russell came last. Hamilton, still looking for his first win of the season, is a five-time winner in Japan. Fernando Alonso was fastest in the wet in FP1 on Friday with Russell driving a Mercedes a couple of hours later in second practice. Watch live with the Independent as George Russell drives a Mercedes one-two in GP 2:
F1 PRACTICE – JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
Show latest update 1665151197
F1 News: Charles Leclerc reflects on ‘very, very difficult’ start to Japanese Grand Prix weekend
Charles Leclerc described his start to the Japanese Grand Prix at the weekend as “very difficult” after a mixed day in practice at Suzuka. The Ferrari star, who comes into this weekend 104 points behind Max Verstappen with five races remaining, is looking to extend his title race to two weeks in Austin, Texas. The only way he can guarantee it is to win on Sunday, while the latter will extend the Championship battle if Verstappen doesn’t set the fastest lap if he wins. However, the Monegasques admitted that Friday’s run – in humid conditions in Japan as opposed to the expected dry weather for qualifying on Saturday – was far from ideal. he finished third in FP1 but was only 11th in second practice, 2.7 seconds off the pace set by Mercedes’ George Russell. “FP1 was fun! FP2, no tires left, so less fun,” said Leclerc. “But overall it was a really good day, the feeling with the car is good, we just have to put it all together tomorrow, but the feeling is good, so that’s positive. FP2 was very, very difficult because the tires were gone. But there’s a lot to learn from today especially about the race, so it’s a positive Friday.”
Leclerc reflects on ‘very, very difficult’ start to Japanese Grand Prix weekend
Leclerc finished just 11th in wet second practice – 2.7 seconds off the pace set by George Russell Kieran Jackson October 7, 2022 2:59 p.m 1665149217
F1 news: Michael Schumacher’s world title-winning Ferrari goes up for sale
Michael Schumacher’s 2003 world title-winning Ferrari is to go up for sale. The F2003-GA took the German to his fourth consecutive drivers’ championship in an extremely tight season of racing. Schumacher beat Kimi Raikkonen by just two points in a year that also brought success in the Constructors’ Championship for the Italian manufacturers. A sixth overall world title moved Schumacher clear of Juan Manuel Fangio as F1’s most successful driver in history. The F2003-GA was a custom version of Ferrari’s 2002 car and was initialed by Gianni Agnelli, the former head of Fiat who died in January 2003. Chassis #229 will go up for sale at the prestigious auction house Sotheby’s on November 9 at full course – turnkey condition.
Michael Schumacher’s world title-winning Ferrari is up for sale
The car will be auctioned at Sotheby’s on November 9 Kieran Jackson October 7, 2022 2:26 p.m 1665147417
F1 News: Max Verstappen reveals what it takes to win the F1 world title in Japan
Max Verstappen insists he needs the “perfect weekend” at the Japanese Grand Prix if he is to claim a second F1 world title at Suzuka. The Red Bull driver has won 11 of 17 races so far this season and has a 104-point lead over Charles Leclerc with just five grands prix remaining. The 25-year-old will win the World Championship this Sunday if he wins the race and sets the fastest lap, while a race-only win would secure the title if Leclerc finishes lower than second. There are 138 points up for grabs until the end of the season – five race wins worth 25 points each, a fastest lap in each and eight points for the winner of the sprint race in Sao Paulo. However, Verstappen admitted in his pre-race press conference that he wasn’t too focused on the transitions and was instead just trying to perform to the best of his ability.
Max Verstappen reveals what it takes to win the F1 world title in Japan
The Red Bull driver has a 104-point lead over Charles Leclerc with just five races remaining Kieran Jackson October 7, 2022 1:56 p.m 1665145737
F1 News: ‘I’m not going anywhere’: Lewis Hamilton could race for another five years
F1 News: ‘I’m not going anywhere’: Lewis Hamilton could race for another five years Lewis Hamilton hinted he could race for another five years after Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff revealed the pair had recently spoken about their futures. The seven-time world champion has a year left on his deal with Mercedes at the end of the current season. Hamilton, 37, holds the record for most wins, pole positions and podiums in Formula 1 history and is tied with Michael Schumacher for most drivers’ championships. But it appears to be far from over, with Wolff revealing last weekend that “we sat down and he says ‘look, I’ve got another five years in me, how do you see that?’ Asked ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix if that was his plan, Hamilton replied: “I haven’t spoken to him (Wolff) about his comments, but I can’t say yet. Possibly, yes, I feel good. I love what I do. We have a lot of work to do, a lot more to achieve. So I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.” Wolff hailed Hamilton as the “shining star on and off the track” in F1 and had one eye on his future outside the car as the Briton explained why he wants to stay in the sport for much more than another five years.
Lewis Hamilton hints he could race for another five years
The seven-time world champion has a year left on his deal with Mercedes at the end of the current season Kieran Jackson October 7, 2022 1:28 p.m 1665143937
F1 News: Ferrari boss reveals why he believes ‘F1’s credibility is at stake’
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto fears Formula 1’s “credibility” is at stake as the FIA prepares to announce whether any teams have breached the budget limit. Rumors last week suggested two manufacturers may have gone over the cost limit, with Red Bull and Aston Martin denying speculation they had overspent. Mercedes and Ferrari have said they believe one team has narrowly breached the cap and the other by a more significant number. The sport’s financial regulations define a minor breach as less than 5% of the cap, set at $145m (£114m) in 2021, and a substantial one as more than that. But Binotto is adamant that even a minor infraction should be taken seriously. “It’s definitely a shame that we’re talking about it in October next season, because at this point, apart from the implications for last year’s championship, there are implications for the current one,” the Ferrari team principal told Sky Italia. “Let’s wait until Wednesday before we judge, but, whatever amount we’re talking about, it’s important to understand that even if it’s four million, which falls under the category of what’s considered a minor offense, four million is not minor.”
Ferrari boss reveals why he believes ‘F1’s credibility is at stake’
The FIA will issue certificates of compliance with the budget limit on Wednesday 5 October Kieran Jackson October 7, 2022 12:58 p.m 1665142137
F1 News: What Max Verstappen needs to win the F1 world title in Japan this weekend
Max Verstappen failed to claim his second world title in Singapore last weekend, but his seventh-place finish still means he is in pole position to complete the Championship at the Japanese Grand Prix. The 25-year-old has a 104-point lead over Charles Leclerc at the top of the drivers’ standings, with only the Ferrari man and Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez (106 points back) mathematically able to stop the Dutchman. With the 2021 cost-cap saga delayed after this weekend’s Grand Prix, the focus turns to on-track action: here’s what Verstappen needs this weekend to wrap up a dominant title as F1 returns to Suzuka.
What does Verstappen need?
Verstappen has won 11 of 17 races this season and leads second-placed Leclerc by 104 points heading into Japan, the first of five races remaining. There are 138 points up for grabs until the end of the season – five race wins worth 25 points each, a fastest lap in each and eight points for the winner of the sprint race in Sao Paulo.
What Max Verstappen needs to win the F1 world title in Japan this weekend
Max Verstappen missed out on second world title in Singapore but can do so at Suzuka Kieran Jackson October 7, 2022 12:28 p.m 1665140337
F1 Practice – Japanese Grand Prix: WEEKEND PREVIEW
While last weekend represented Max Verstappen’s first, albeit slim, opening to claim his second world title, Formula 1’s return to an old favorite at Suzuka in rural Japan gives the Dutchman a real chance to complete a dominant 2022 season. The Red Bull star has a 104-point lead over Charles Leclerc with five races remaining and, this time, it’s completely in his hands: a race win on Sunday with the fastest lap will secure the World Championship regardless of where Leclerc is or the team -Finished Sergio Perez. Even finishing on top of the podium – something Verstappen has done in five of the last six races – without the bonus point means Leclerc must finish second to mathematically retain the race…
