Still was not as simple because Verstappen was involved in an incident with Lando Norris. Max darted left at the exit of 130R on a slow lap, forcing Norris to go on the grass in order to avoid a massive crash.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is on P6, with George Russell is on P8. The Silver Arrows are split only by the other Alpine car of Fernando Alonso.
Sebastian Vettel made it through to Q3 for the first time since June's Azerbaijan Grand Prix en route to ninth on the grid, with McLaren's Norris completing the top 10.
Besides the on-track results, we have some moves on the driver markets. From 2023, Nyck de Vries will race alongside Yuki Tsunoda at AlphaTauri, while Pierre Gasly will move to Alpine.
08:36 UTC What a season it was for the Dutchman. And it's not over yet. See you in two weeks in Austin, Texas.
08:35 UTC "For Honda to win this as well, and here. We're truly grateful for their support in previous years and as a supplier this year," says Horner. "It needs everything to come together to achieve the kind of results we have. It's unexpected, we didn't think we had the points today but wow, unbelievable."
08:34 UTC
Max Verstappen, you are a DOUBLE WORLD CHAMPION ???????? pic.twitter.com/mViZ5woEit
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) October 9, 2022
08:34 UTC Verstappen is still on the hunt for the records. Vettel and Michael Schumacher are tied for the most wins in a season with 13. Meanwhile, Verstappen has 12 with four races to go in this season.
08:32 UTC
MAX VERSTAPPEN
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION!!!#2TheMax #F1 pic.twitter.com/eOlI6B6un1
08:32 UTC He is now tied in championships with legends of the sport such as Jim Clark, Alberto Ascari, Graham Hill, Fernando Alonso, Mika Hakkinen and Emerson Fittipaldi.
08:30 UTC He is now a two time world champion, joining an even more elite group of multiple world champions.
08:29 UTC Verstappen still seems to be in shock, although he's had a few months to prepare for this moment.
08:28 UTC If he won the race, he needed Leclerc to finish third or lower. And with that five second penalty that drops Leclerc from second to third, it is confirmed that Verstappen has won the drivers title.
08:16 UTC
Leclerc has been handed a 5-second penalty for cutting the chicane at the end
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
That means Perez now finishes second, Leclerc drops to third #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Tj3iQXmYk4
08:15 UTC It was a weird moment because he found about his achievement during the interview.
08:15 UTC After Leclerc penalty, Max Verstappen just become a world champion for the second time in a row.
08:14 UTC MAX VERSTAPPEN IS THE 2022 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION!!!
08:14 UTC "We got quite a good amount of laps in, the car was flying. Very happy we could race here," declared Max Verstappen.
08:13 UTC As a result, Sergio is on second place.
08:12 UTC FIVE SECONDS PENALTY FOR CHARLES LECLERC!
08:11 UTC The incident between Leclerc and Perez is under investigation.
08:10 UTC Latifi finished the race in P9, grabbing two important points for Williams.
08:09 UTC Ocon did hold off Hamilton for fourth, Vettel was sixth and Alonso got past Russell for seventh.
08:09 UTC Meanwhile Charles is on second and Perez on third.
08:08 UTC Leclerc cut the final chicane while he was trying to defend and then he blocked Perez in an unsafe way. It is very possible that Leclerc would receive a penalty.
08:08 UTC Verstappen is the uncontested winner.
08:06 UTC What a fight between Perez and Leclerc.
08:06 UTC This is the final lap and Verstappen is leading things and in cruise control. It's been a wet weather masterclass from him today.
08:05 UTC Still Perez is right behind Leclerc and he tries everything to overtake the Ferrari driver.
08:04 UTC It is Lap 27 and so when Verstappen crosses the line here, he will be on for those 19 points. But with Leclerc in second, the title fight will go on.
08:03 UTC Verstappen obliterated everyone. He has 24 seconds over Leclerc. Incredible driving.
08:02 UTC We now have less than five minutes to go. Perez tries to find a way to overtake Leclerc. Meanwhile, Hamilton has the same problem with Ocon.
07:59 UTC Sergio Perez is all over the back of Leclerc.
07:58 UTC
Great battle for P4 ????
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
Ocon is holding off Hamilton for now#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/6bTmloVohW
07:57 UTC It's quite late but maybe he can make it count.
07:57 UTC Alonso is the one who risk with a pit stop.
07:56 UTC Zhou has picked off Gasly, and is lapping a couple of seconds quicker than the leaders, and four seconds faster than his team mate. Will anyone from the front pack risk a pit stop?
07:55 UTC Verstappen is leading the race by 16s and his teammate Perez is starting to close on Leclerc n in a private battle for second on the road and second in the championship.
07:53 UTC Esteban Ocon is defending like crazy. Hamilton tried three or four times to overtake the Alpine driver but without success.
07:50 UTC Still no one wants to pits. Only Zhou did it, but he is not racing for anyrhing.
07:48 UTC Many drivers are talking about another stop.
07:47 UTC Intense battle between Esteban Ocon and Lewis Hamilton for P4.
07:46 UTC
"That was a nice move"
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
George Russell commentating on his own driving ????
The Briton is past Tsunoda and into the top 10 with 20 mins left to race! #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/hQyNJDEvMk
07:46 UTC Leclerc is losing time to Perez as well.
07:45 UTC The Monegasque asked his team about how many positions he will lose if he enters the pits. Five is the answer.
07:44 UTC Leclerc is nursing his tires now, and as such the lead up front has grown to 10 seconds.
07:42 UTC Verstappen tires are starting to overheat, but it could rain again in a couple of minutes.
07:41 UTC Verstappen pulled away from Leclerc quite a lot.
07:41 UTC The racing line is starting to dry, and that means the spray is reducing. However, the inters will start to lose performance,
07:37 UTC Less than half an hour on the clock and that means Lap 27 should be within reach, which is the half-points moment.
07:35 UTC Ocon has picked up Schumacher, followed immediately by Hamilton.
07:34 UTC Leclerc has the fastest lap of the race now.
07:34 UTC Mick Schumacher is the only drivers with full wets. He hopes a safety car will be out.
07:33 UTC Ferrari mechanics were much slower than the Red Bull ones. The gap between Leclerc and Verstappen after the pit stop is almost five seconds.
07:32 UTC
35 minutes remaining...
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
And it's super busy in the pit lane as multiple drivers (including Verstappen and Leclerc) pit for inters #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5InXQXPSrM
07:31 UTC Only Mick and Zhou are still on full wets. Verstappen is the leader of the race now with Leclerc in second.
07:31 UTC Alonso and Ricciardo are in the pits.
07:30 UTC Russell is very disappointed with Mercedes's decision to pit.
07:30 UTC Everyone besides Alonso, RIcciardo, Schumacher and Zhou fitted the inters.
07:29 UTC Vettel set the fastest lap.
07:28 UTC Verstappen and Leclerc are in for intermediate tires.
07:28 UTC Kevin Magnussen overtakes Lance Stroll with a brave move before Turn 8.
07:27 UTC Replays from the previous lap show that Latifi and Vettel were almost released simultaneously.
07:27 UTC Bottas and Norris are the next to pit for the intermediate tires.
07:27 UTC Leclerc gained some time back and he stays close with Max.
07:26 UTC Vettel just about comes ahead of Latifi.
07:25 UTC Verstappen is well ahead of Leclerc.
07:25 UTC Latifi and Vettel are already pitting for intermediate.
07:24 UTC Green flag!
07:24 UTC Finally! After two hours we have some racing.
07:24 UTC Some drivers are already thinking about intermediate tires.
07:23 UTC Safety car will enter the pits at the end of this lap.
07:23 UTC Visibility is the main problem for now.
07:22 UTC Bottas said visibility is still too poor when many cars are ahead. He is in P14.
07:19 UTC
???? GREEN LIGHT ????
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
The Safety Car leads out the drivers #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/NGW4TMGrba
07:18 UTC Hamilton said through radio that the track is pretty good. Ocon confirms that visibility is better.
07:17 UTC After two hours F1 cars are back on track behind the Safety Car.
07:16 UTC A nice touch from the fans...
07:15 UTC
We're almost ready to go racing again
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
We'll be resuming behind the Safety Car #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Lqk3dhl9lz
07:14 UTC After completing 14 laps, half points will be awarded. And if they get as far as Lap 27, then as they cross the line, the winner would get 19 points. Full points are out of discussion today.
07:14 UTC The drivers need to complete two racing laps not behind the Safety Car for the initial points to be awarded, with six for the winner, four for second, then three, two and one.
07:11 UTC
???? UPDATE ????
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
Race will resume at 16:15 local time #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/AfmGN8OFiF
07:10 UTC All the drivers are in their cars right now.
07:10 UTC The maximum time left on the clock will be 45 minutes, so the next debate is whether they will get to a situation where points are awarded.
07:10 UTC The race will start under safety car condition.
07:07 UTC There is some frantic activity in the pit lane.
07:06 UTC OFFICIAL NEWS! In ten minutes time the race will resume!!!
07:01 UTC Meanwhile Vettel and Mick Schumacher are having a conversation while others drivers are just having fun trying to keep busy.
06:56 UTC The spray doesn't look too bad, but it's a big difference between the medical car and a Formula 1 car.
06:55 UTC Bernd Maylander is back on track.
06:53 UTC Apparently the weather situation could get better soon. Let's stay positive.
06:52 UTC Most probably Max won't be crowned world champion at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix with how things are going.
06:47 UTC We are almost two hours into the race and the weather is not looking any better.
06:46 UTC
camera roll (live) find #7:@yukitsunoda07 keeping the crowd entertained pic.twitter.com/7VnG2jgoYQ
— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) October 9, 2022
06:37 UTC The weather forecast is not good, and there are few chances to get some track action today.
06:35 UTC "All we can do is wait, study the weather forecast and make sure the cars are ready to go at any moment, the drivers as well. To be honest, it's quite a pessimistic outcome. The forecast says it will keep raining," said McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl.
06:20 UTC We are already in the second hour of racing from the available three and it's almost impossible to complete the necessary 40 Laps for full points.
06:18 UTC Due to wet weather condition, Verstappen most probably won't be crowned champion after the Japanese Grand Prix.
06:12 UTC The rain is still falling hard on the track.
06:12 UTC "Yes [hydraulics] but created by contact. We couldn't see ten metres in front of us, the cars at the back, we were kind of doing pin ball not knowing where the track was. I touched with another car which I didn't see. A tricky one, that's how it is," declared Alex Albon.
06:05 UTC McLaren's engineers are enjoying a nice and warm soup.
05:59 UTC
Re-start suspended: we don’t know how long for though. The main problem is the spray, with the rain getting harder again. Drivers getting out of their cars: ice cream time????#JapaneseGP
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) October 9, 2022
05:51 UTC A minimum of ten minutes notice will be given to a restart.
05:50 UTC The engineers are once again running towards cars with umbrellas and others stuff.
05:50 UTC THE RESTART IS SUSPENDED!
05:47 UTC
Back to it. ???? #JapaneseGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/nod10Nh8Lk
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 9, 2022
05:42 UTC Alex Albon retired from the race due to a hydraulic problem.
05:41 UTC Use of wet weather tires is mandatory.
05:40 UTC
The @MercedesAMG Safety Car is testing the track conditions ????
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
It still looks very wet out there #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/EQHJb5P74N
05:40 UTC The Safety Car will lead the train out of the pits and they will continue behind the Safety Car until conditions are deemed safe to resume racing.
05:39 UTC OFFICIAL NEWS! In ten minutes time we will have a rolling start.
05:38 UTC Vettel and Alonso had a pretty rough contact at the start. Amazing that both cars are still in the race.
05:37 UTC We saw the replay of Sainz crash again. He was a passenger in the car. He lost the rear and that was it.
05:35 UTC Hopefully we won't see a 2021 Belgian Grand Prix 2.0.
05:31 UTC Bernd Maylander is now on the track.
05:30 UTC
No sign of a restart yet
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
Currently lots and lots of rain ??????#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/6TiNUAJm4F
05:28 UTC Let's talk about the pointing syste, just in case this one doesn't manage to make it to full race distance.
Between two completed laps and 25% distance (the end of Lap 14) points will be awarded for the top five finishers. By the end of Lap 27, there will be half points awarded. If the race passes onto Lap 41, it will be a full points race.
05:26 UTC What a shame for Albon and Sainz. They retired in a race where many points could be up for grabs.
05:23 UTC
We still have a red flag here at Suzuka
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
Here's how things stood as the drivers returned to the pit lane ????#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/xENkA7EtJM
05:22 UTC Alfa Romeo's Bottas and Zhou are on P14 and P17.
05:20 UTC Of course the French driver was upset.
05:20 UTC Gasly was suddenly hit with a large piece of advertising.
05:18 UTC
LAP 3/53
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
???? RED FLAG ????
Drivers return to the pit lane as the rain intensifies #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/T06GMC6msw
05:15 UTC In ten minutes the rain should be less intense.
05:13 UTC Meanwhile, Ocon is up to P4 ahead of Hamilton, with Alonso in sixth and Russell seventh. Ricciardo had a brilliant start to run eighth, ahead of Tsunoda and Schumacher.
05:12 UTC Verstappen will pull back into the pits in P1, ahead of Leclerc and Perez.
05:12 UTC Red flag is out because of the rain intensifying.
05:10 UTC Zhou spun by himself in front of a Williams, Gasly has already been back to the pits for the full wets
05:10 UTC Carlos Sainz lost the car and is out!
05:08 UTC Vettel spun after putting a wheel on the white line and then over correcting and touching Alonso, ending up in the gravel at Turn 1.
05:08 UTC And we have Safety Car!!!
05:07 UTC Verstappen brakes later than Leclerc into the first corner and he keeps his lead.
05:07 UTC Leclerc is alongside Verstappen who gets another sluggish start.
05:07 UTC Lights out!
05:01 UTC Everyone is on intermediate tires.
05:00 UTC The drivers are being told that it is going to be a standing start.
05:00 UTC
doing our best to keep dry ???? pic.twitter.com/Hx6Q2ynxmk
— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) October 9, 2022
04:59 UTC Suzuka and rain. What could possibly be better?
04:58 UTC Risk of rain for today's race is 100%.
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