Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB18.

F1 Japanese Grand Prix - Verstappen named champion amid confusion

F1 Japanese Grand Prix won by Max Verstappen - he is F1 2022 champion after confusion.
Pierre Gasly left fuming after dangerous incident with recovery vehicle

F1 2022 Japanese Grand Prix - Full Race results from Round 18

Connor McDonagh_1

09 Oct 2022

08:46

Mercedes' lack of straight-line speed is costing Hamilton. He's so much quicker than Ocon here.

08:44

The order on Lap 17: Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Ocon, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Latifi, Russell, Norris.

08:44

Russell has now overtaken Tsunoda and Norris for ninth.

Next up is his former teammate, Latifi.

08:43

Leclerc is now 10.7s off Verstappen - 1.4s slower than on the last lap.

08:41

Verstappen's lead is up to 9.1s. Leclerc seems to be struggling with his tyres already.

08:40

The order on Lap 14: Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Ocon, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso Latifi, Norris and Tsunoda.

08:38

George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W13. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Race — George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W13. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd…

08:36

The order on Lap 12: Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Ocon, Hamilton, Vettel, alonso, Latifi, Norris, Tsunoda, Russell, Stroll, Ricciardo, Magnussen, Bottas, Gasly, Zhou and Schumacher.

08:35

Verstappen is 4.6s clear of Leclerc at the front of the field.

08:34

Leclerc is told they have "18 laps to go".

08:33

Ocon overtakes Schumacher into Spoon corner for fourth.

The German now loses a place to Hamilton.

08:32

The order on Lap 10: Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Schumacher, Ocon, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Latifi and Norris.

08:31

35 minutes remaining...

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
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022

08:30

Alonso pits and rejoins in ninth behind Vettel.

08:29

Lap 8: Alonso, Ricciardo, Schumacher, Verstappen, Zhou, Leclerc, Perez, Ocon, Hamilton, Vettel, Latifi, Norris, Tsunoda, Russell, Stroll, Bottas, Magnussen and Gasly.

08:28

Lots of pit stops with Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Ocon, Hamilton and more in the pits.

08:27

Vettel looks very quick on the intermediates. This could get interesting.

08:25

Verstappen's lead is 1.2s over Leclerc. Perez is 5.1s off in third.

08:24

Vettel and Latifi pit for intermediates further down the order.

08:23

The Japanese Grand Prix is back underway at Suzuka!

08:22

Safety Car will enter the pit lane. Rolling start procedure.

The race is getting underway?!

08:21

Bottas: "Visibility is still too poor."

08:19

Order under the Safety Car: Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Ocon, Hamilton, Alonso, Russell, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Schumacher, Stroll, Magnussen, Norris, Bottas, Latifi, Vettel, Zhou and Gasly.

08:17

"Visibility is better so far," Ocon says.

08:16

"Track is really good," Hamilton reports over team radio.