Four races before the end of the 2022 GP season, Max Verstappen successfully defended his world title. A look back shows that only two other Grand Prix aces have done it faster than him.
In no particular order, we respond to questions from our readers in the form of «SPEEDWEEKipedia». This time, Hartmut Bayer from Passau wants to know: “Max Verstappen has his title after the Japanese GP in the dry, with four races to go. What other pilots became world champions so early?”
Only two drivers have done that earlier than Max. Michael Schumacher secured his fifth world title in 2002 at the French Grand Prix, ie in the 11th of 17 races, with six races to go! Schumi won eight of these eleven races.
Nigel Mansell was crowned world champion in 1992 with five races to go. The Williams driver also needed just eleven races to secure his title. The Englishman won eight of these eleven races, including the first five of the season in a row.
Sebastian Vettel became champion in 2011 with four races to go, in the 15th of 19 races (like Max Verstappen in Japan). Vettel won nine of those 15 Grands Prix.
Max successfully defended his title in the 18th race of the season, and he won 12 World Championship races.
Four races before the end of the season, Michael Schumacher was also world champion in 2001 and 2004.
If reader Bayer says “so early”, then we would like to add: The Formula 1 World Championship has become richer and richer in races over the years, which is why the decision from summer moved more and more into autumn.
But the earliest decision, date-wise, was in 1965, when Jim Clark was crowned champion on August 1st.
Other champions in August:
Alberto Ascari 1952 (am 3. August)
Juan Manuel Fangio 1957 (4.)
Jack Brabham 1960 (14.)
Jackie Stewart 1971 (15.)
Nigel Mansell 1992 (16.)
Michael Schumacher 2001 (19.)
Fangio 1954 (22.)
Ascari 1953 (23.)
Schumacher 2004 (29.)
Japan-GP, Suzuka
01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 3:01:44,004 h
02. Sergio Perez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +27.066sec
03. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +31,763
04. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +39,685
05. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +40,326
06. Sebastian Vettel (D), Aston Martin, +46,358
07. Fernando Alonso (L), Alpine, +46,369
08. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +47,661
09. Nicholas Latifi (CDN), Williams, +70,143
10. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +70.782
11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), McLaren, +72,877
12. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +73,904
13. Yuki tsunoda (J), Alphatauri, +75,599
14. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +86.016
15. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Alfa Romeo, +86,496
16. Guanyu Zhou (RC), Alfa Romeo, +87,043
17. Mick Schumacher (D), Haas, +92,523
18. Pierre Gasly (F), AlphaTauri, +108,091
Out
Alex Albon (T), Williams, Hydraulikdefekt
Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, accident
Championship status (after 18 of 22 races)
driver
01. Verstappen 366 points
02. Pérez 253
03. Leclerc 252
04. Russell 207
05. Sainz 202
06. Hamilton 180
07. Norris 101
08. Ocon 78
09. Alonso 65
10. Bottas 46
11. Vettel 32
12. Ricciardo 29
13. Gasly 23
14. Magnussen 22
15. Stroll 13
16. Schumacher 12
17. TSUNODA 11
18. Zhou 6
19. Albon 4
20. Latif 2
21. DeVries 2
22. Nico Hülkenberg (D) 0
Constructors’ Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 619 Punkte
02. Ferrari 454
03. Mercedes 387
04. Alpine 143
05. McLaren 130
06. Alfa Romeo 52
07. Aston Martin 45
08. Haas 34
09. AlphaTauri 34
10. Williams 8