F1, Fia clarifies why Max Verstappen is already world champion

A Federation statement dispels all doubts about Max Verstappen’s arithmetic title

Max Verstappen’s world title win caught everyone a bit by surprise, even the Red Bull driver himself, who only learned about it in post-race interviews.

In a statement, the Fia explained why it awarded full points despite the fact that the race in Japan was halved due to bad weather: “The rules regarding the awarding of reduced points (Article 6.5) apply only when the race is suspended and cannot be resumed, and therefore full points are awarded and Max Verstappen is World Champion.”

Also decisive for the Dutchman’s rainbow triumph was Leclerc’s 5-second penalty for a chicane cut in the race finale, which led to the podium places being reversed between the Monegasque and Perez.