The Dutchman has a great chance of becoming world champion for the second time in Japan: it is enough for him to win and set the fastest lap
All eyes are on the Red Bull box this weekend more than ever. Not only because their partnership with Honda will be clearer because it’s the Japan GP, but also because Sunday is a near-perfect opportunity for them to wrap up the party. Max Verstappen didn’t have as easy as this last weekend in Singapore. In fact, it was his worst result of the year of races ending (tie with Silverstone) when he came in seventh and saw the only two drivers with mathematical options, his teammate Sergio Pérez and Charles Leclerc, finish first and second. .
Now in Suzuka, the scene of legendary battles and championship resolutions long ago, it serves him with something relatively simple for him: winning and making the fastest lap. That is the immediate option to sing the alirón, although it would be worth it to be first without that extra point, as long as Leclerc does not take the stage.
Without victory, the scenarios are more complex. It would be worth it for Leclerc to finish fifth to delay a little more what seems inevitable, something that, other than yet another Ferrari failure, is relatively predictable. For this reason, Verstappen does not want to speculate and only ask what he is trying to show in every corner he makes: perfection. After seeing what happened at Marina Bay, where the team failed in qualifying and then failed in the race (something very unusual), it is clear that there is no room for error in Japan.
“I need a perfect weekend to win the title, that’s for sure. You learn from failures, but nothing needs to change in the team. We all know it was a bad weekend. But we also showed this year that we’ve had other really good ones so we know how to do it I’d love to win here at Honda’s place because that would make it a little bit more special And it was also a shame we couldn’t be here last year because of the pandemic “, when I was also in the battle for the title. I was really looking forward to coming back here. And we’ll see what happens,” said the great candidate.
You will not be confused in the least. Both Leclerc and Pérez have sound intentions of contesting the title until the last minute, and the entry of other actors onto the scene, such as Carlos Sainz, who needs rehabilitation after his bad weekend in Singapore or the ever-lurking George. Russell and Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, they will have a lot to say.
Another one who wants to get rid of the bad taste in his mouth because of what happened in Marina Bay is Fernando Alonso. After the start of a disappointing season, the Asturian booked ten consecutive Grand Prix in points… before dropping out twice in the last two races. As he warms up to get into the Aston Martin (in Japan he was seen in a simulator in which he chose a green team car), he will have to continue to put up with Alpine.
The French team fooled themselves in Singapore, with a double retirement, so they have to add yes or yes to neutralize McLaren’s comeback, which dropped them from fourth place after their best weekend of 2022. Alonso expresses his disappointment with the team: if they arrive with engine problems, it is because they have chosen badly when to punish… because sooner or later they will have to do it again. “We lost a lot of points and now we are unfortunately behind in the fight with McLaren. I hope we will have five normal final races, but it was our weak point this year. We won’t know for sure until the end of it.” year, so maybe we should introduce a power unit. I don’t think it’s this weekend. But… later”, the Spaniard wailed.
Alonso also took a stance on today’s major controversy, the alleged illegality of Red Bull and Aston Martin by skipping the widely accepted budget cap. An investigation that, somewhat suspiciously, only ends with the conclusions after the race in Japan. Although he has been very critical of them in the past, the Asturian driver fully positions himself with the FIA and its chairman, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, whom he has known for years. “Off the track I am very confident in what they are doing and what the outcome will be next week with the cost cap and how the sport is moving into the future. I don’t doubt it,” he said, asking for some honesty and fairness. “I think we all expect the FIA to keep a close eye on all these things because we want to compete in a fair environment and so,” he asked implicitly.
Source: La Verdad
I’m an experienced news author and editor based in New York City. I specialize in covering healthcare news stories for Today Times Live, helping to keep readers informed on the latest developments related to the industry. I have a deep understanding of medical topics, including emerging treatments and drugs, the changing laws that regulate healthcare providers, and other matters that affect public health.
