The 2022 Japanese Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Honda Japanese Grand Prix 2022) was a Formula One motor race held on 9 October 2022 at the Suzuka International Racing Course in Suzuka, Japan. Max Verstappen won the race finishing first, in front of Sergio Pérez and Charles Leclerc. Despite only 28 of the scheduled 53 laps being completed, full points were awarded due to a loophole in the regulations regarding how points should be allocated, with the rules stating that reduced points should only be awarded in shortened races that end under red flag conditions. As this race ended under green flag conditions, this system was not applied. The wording of the sporting regulations was subsequently amended for 2023, so races that do not reach the 75 percent distance are awarded shortened race points regardless of whether a race finishes under red or green flag conditions.
| 2022 Japanese Grand Prix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 18 of 22 in the 2022 Formula One World Championship
| |||||
 Layout of the Suzuka International Racing Course | |||||
| Race details[1] | |||||
| Date | 9 October 2022 | ||||
| Official name | Formula 1 Honda Japanese Grand Prix 2022 | ||||
| Location |
Suzuka International Racing Course Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 5.807 km (3.608 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 28 laps, 162.296 km (100.846 miles) | ||||
| Scheduled distance | 53 laps, 307.471 km (191.054 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Rain | ||||
| Attendance | 200,000[2] | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Red Bull Racing-RBPT | ||||
| Time | 1:29.304 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver |
 Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | |||
| Time | 1:44.411 on lap 20 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | Red Bull Racing-RBPT | ||||
| Second | Red Bull Racing-RBPT | ||||
| Third | Ferrari | ||||
|
Lap leaders | |||||
Background
editThe event was held across the weekend of the 7–9 October. It was the eighteenth round of the 2022 Formula One World Championship and the first time the event had been held since 2019, with the 2020 and 2021 races cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Valtteri Bottas entered as the defending race winner.
Championship standings before the race
editGoing into the weekend, Max Verstappen led the Drivers' Championship by 104 points from Charles Leclerc, second, and teammate Sergio Pérez, third, by 106. Red Bull Racing team led the Constructors' Championship, leading Ferrari by 137 points and Mercedes by 203 points.[3] For the second race running, Verstappen had an opportunity to secure his second World Drivers' Championship in a row. He needed to outscore Leclerc by eight points and Pérez by six. Verstappen could have won the title as follows:[4]
| Driver | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Max Verstappen
|
 Charles Leclerc
|
 Sergio Pérez
| |
| Pos. | 1st with fastest lap | Position irrelevant | Position irrelevant |
| 1st | 3rd or lower | Position irrelevant | |
| 2nd with fastest lap | 5th or lower | 4th or lower | |
| 2nd | 5th or lower without fastest lap | 4th or lower without fastest lap | |
| 3rd with fastest lap | 6th or lower | 5th or lower | |
| 3rd | 7th or lower | 6th or lower | |
| 4th with fastest lap | 8th or lower | 7th or lower | |
| 4th | 8th or lower without fastest lap | 7th or lower without fastest lap | |
| 5th with fastest lap | 9th or lower | 8th or lower | |
| 5th | 9th without fastest lap or lower | 8th or lower without fastest lap | |
| 6th with fastest lap | 10th or lower | 9th or lower | |
| 6th | Out of the points | 9th or lower without fastest lap | |
Entrants
editThe drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race.[5]
Tyre choices
editTyre supplier Pirelli brought the C1, C2, and C3 tyre compounds (designated hard, medium, and soft, respectively) for teams to use at the event.[6]
Penalties
editWilliams' Nicholas Latifi carried a five-place grid penalty for causing a collision with Zhou Guanyu at the previous round, the Singapore Grand Prix.[7]
Qualifying
editAfter qualifying, Max Verstappen was given a reprimand by stewards for an incident in Q3 involving loss of control of the car requiring Lando Norris to manoeuvre around Verstappen at speed coming out of 130R. There was no grid penalty issued.[8]
Qualifying classification
edit| Pos. | No. | Driver | Constructor | Qualifying times | Final grid | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | |||||
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen
|
Red Bull Racing-RBPT | 1:30.224 | 1:30.346 | 1:29.304 | 1 |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc
|
Ferrari | 1:30.402 | 1:30.486 | 1:29.314 | 2 |
| 3 | 55 |  Carlos Sainz Jr.
|
Ferrari | 1:30.336 | 1:30.444 | 1:29.361 | 3 |
| 4 | 11 | Sergio Pérez
|
Red Bull Racing-RBPT | 1:30.622 | 1:29.925 | 1:29.709 | 4 |
| 5 | 31 |  Esteban Ocon
|
Alpine-Renault | 1:30.696 | 1:30.357 | 1:30.165 | 5 |
| 6 | 44 |  Lewis Hamilton
|
Mercedes | 1:30.906 | 1:30.443 | 1:30.261 | 6 |
| 7 | 14 | Fernando Alonso
|
Alpine-Renault | 1:30.603 | 1:30.343 | 1:30.322 | 7 |
| 8 | 63 | George Russell
|
Mercedes | 1:30.865 | 1:30.465 | 1:30.389 | 8 |
| 9 | 5 |  Sebastian Vettel
|
Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes | 1:31.256 | 1:30.656 | 1:30.554 | 9 |
| 10 | 4 | Lando Norris
|
McLaren-Mercedes | 1:30.881 | 1:30.473 | 1:31.003 | 10 |
| 11 | 3 |  Daniel Ricciardo
|
McLaren-Mercedes | 1:30.880 | 1:30.659 | N/A | 11 |
| 12 | 77 |  Valtteri Bottas
|
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1:31.226 | 1:30.709 | N/A | 12 |
| 13 | 22 |  Yuki Tsunoda
|
AlphaTauri-RBPT | 1:31.130 | 1:30.808 | N/A | 13 |
| 14 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu
|
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1:30.894 | 1:30.953 | N/A | 14 |
| 15 | 47 | Mick Schumacher
|
Haas-Ferrari | 1:31.152 | 1:31.439 | N/A | 15 |
| 16 | 23 |  Alexander Albon
|
Williams-Mercedes | 1:31.311 | N/A | N/A | 16 |
| 17 | 10 | Pierre Gasly
|
AlphaTauri-RBPT | 1:31.322 | N/A | N/A | PL1 |
| 18 | 20 |  Kevin Magnussen
|
Haas-Ferrari | 1:31.352 | N/A | N/A | 17 |
| 19 | 18 |  Lance Stroll
|
Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes | 1:31.419 | N/A | N/A | 18 |
| 20 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi
|
Williams-Mercedes | 1:31.511 | N/A | N/A | 192 |
| 107% time: 1:36.539 | |||||||
| Source:[9][10] | |||||||
Notes
- ^1 – Pierre Gasly qualified 17th, but he was required to start the race from the pit lane due to modifications to a rear wing assembly, front wing ballast and the setup of the suspension.[10]
- ^2 – Nicholas Latifi received a five-place grid penalty for causing a collision with Zhou Guanyu at the previous round.[7] He gained a position as Gasly was required to start the race from the pit lane.[10]
Race
editRace report
editBefore the race started, voice actress, singer and narrator Nana Mizuki sang the Japanese national anthem.[11] The race started at 14:00 local time on 9 October 2022 under torrential rain (which was the reason for so many incidents in the race) and was red-flagged on lap 2 after Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. lost control into the hairpin of the opening lap and aquaplaned into the barriers. A recovery vehicle was immediately dispatched, with several drivers passing the tractor at speed under double-yellow flags on the second lap.[12] Alex Albon also retired due to a collision with Kevin Magnussen which caused damage to his radiator.[13]
The race resumed at 16:15 local time behind the safety car. Only twenty-eight laps were completed before the race was curtailed due to it passing the three-hour time limit, with Verstappen taking his twelfth victory of the season. Leclerc, who finished second on track, was given a five-second penalty for cutting the final chicane whist defending from Pérez in third, which demoted him to third behind Pérez. The win meant that Verstappen took the Championship title, leading Pérez by 113 points, with 112 points still available.
Post-race
editPoints allocation confusion and clarification
editAs less than 75% of the scheduled race distance had been completed, the majority of the paddock were under the impression that Verstappen would not be awarded full points, Verstappen instead earning 19 points and Leclerc 12, which would have left Verstappen one point short of claiming the championship. Verstappen himself expressed surprise in the cooldown room that full points had been awarded, making him champion.[14]
The confusion regarding the number of points awarded was as a result of a rule change introduced for the 2022 season. Although historically races curtailed on such a scale as this Grand Prix would see half-points awarded, the wording of the new regulation only applied "If a race is suspended and cannot be resumed"; as the race was resumed and completed short, the FIA awarded full points under a strict reading of the regulations, effectively bypassing the gradual scale points system that had been introduced for 2022, following dissatisfaction with how points were allocated at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix. Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner expressed his view that the rule would be revised for the 2023 season to closer match the teams' intentions when the rule was written.[15] In FIA World Endurance Championship competition, for example, the rules state full points are awarded once 75% of the race time was completed, which by the letter of the rule in F1 at the time meant 53 laps or the full race time of three hours. In theory, the race completed the full three hour time limit. Prior to the 2023 championship the F1 Commission agreed to alter the wording of the regulations to ensure all races where less than 75% of the race distance is completed now use the sliding scale system to determine the points being given, regardless of whether they finish under red or green flag conditions. This wording change satisfies the original intention of the gradual scale points system when it was introduced in 2022.[16]
Criticism of and investigation into deployment of recovery vehicles
editThe deployment and position of the recovery vehicle on the track was criticised after AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly narrowly missed the vehicle due to poor visibility, angrily remonstrated that "[he] could have killed [himself]" if he had lost control and hit the vehicle, even at reduced speed.[17] Gasly also attacked the deployment as "disrespectful" to the memory and family of his childhood friend Jules Bianchi, who suffered fatal injuries at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix when he crashed into a recovery vehicle after aquaplaning off the circuit. Bianchi's godson Charles Leclerc also said that the sport should learn from Bianchi's death and not have similar issues in the future, and Bianchi's father wrote on Instagram that the race officials had "no respect" for either the life of the drivers or Bianchi's memory. The FIA confirmed there would be an investigation into the deployment of recovery vehicles.[18]
Race classification
editNotes
- ^1 – The race distance was initially scheduled to be completed for 53 laps before being shortened due to a red flag.[19][failed verification]
- ^2 – Charles Leclerc finished second, but he received a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.[19]
- ^3 – Pierre Gasly finished 17th, but he received a drive-through penalty (converted to a 20-second time penalty post-race) for speeding under red flag conditions.[19][failed verification]
FIA investigation
editOn 21 October 2022, the FIA published its review into the Grand Prix with the FIA's report recognising that the deployment of the recovery vehicle could have been handled better.
The FIA is due to implement a warning system of recovery vehicles on track. The FIA stated that the VSC system would be improved so that the drivers speed limit could vary depending on where the car is in relation to the site of any on-track incident. In addition the FIA said it would look into further improvements to the full wet weather tyres and to circuit's drainage capabilities. The FIA stated the intention to review how points were awarded at the next World Motorsport Council meeting.
The FIA abandoned the idea of rotating race directors, leaving Niels Wittich as the sole serving race director for the final four rounds of the championship. The rotation policy was not met with favourable reviews from drivers, as well as being in response to criticism of Eduardo Freitas' performance as race director at this event.[21]
Championship standings after the race
edit
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
- Bold text indicates competitors who still had a theoretical chance of becoming World Champion.
See also
edit- 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, which saw Jules Bianchi fatally crash into a recovery vehicle.
References
edit- ^ "Japanese Grand Prix 2022 – F1 Race". formula1.com. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Verstappen crowned 2022 world champion after dramatic Suzuka win". Gdnonline.com. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ "Singapore 2022 – Championship". Stats F1. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Points permutations: What Verstappen needs to do to win his second drivers' crown in Japan". Formula1.com. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "2022 Japanese Grand Prix – Entry List" (PDF). FIA. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ "2022 tyre compound choices – Singapore and Japan". pirelli.com. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Latifi hit with 5-place grid penalty for Japanese GP after clash with Zhou in Singapore". Formula1.com. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Verstappen handed reprimand for Japanese GP qualifying incident with Norris but holds onto pole". Formula 1.com. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "Formula 1 Honda Japanese Grand Prix 2022 – Qualifying". Formula 1.com. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d "2022 Japanese Grand Prix – Final Starting Grid" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ "水樹奈々、F1日本GP決勝で国歌独唱" [Nana Mizuki sings national anthem at Formula One Japanese Grand Prix]. Barks (in Japanese). 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ "'We lost Jules because of this': F1 drivers furious over crane". RaceFans. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ "Latifi calls P9 finish at Suzuka a 'nice reward' for Williams as Albon reveals radiator damage caused first lap DNF". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ Valantine, Henry (9 October 2022). "FIA explain how Max Verstappen was able to clinch World Championship in Japan". PlanetF1. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Benson, Andrew (9 October 2022). "Verstappen class only certainty on 'weird' day for F1". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Collantine, Keith (21 February 2023). "F1 tweaks flawed points rule, eases radio restrictions and approves new rain tyres". www.racefans.net. Collantine Publishing. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ Takle, Abhishek (9 October 2022). "'I could have killed myself': Gasly fumes over tractor near-miss". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Benson, Andrew (9 October 2022). "Anger as truck triggers memories of Bianchi death". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Formula 1 Honda Japanese Grand Prix 2022 – Race Result". Formula 1.com. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ "Formula 1 Honda Japanese Grand Prix 2022 – Fastest Laps". Formula 1.com. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ "FIA abandons rotation of F1 race director for rest of 2022". The-race.com. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Japan 2022 – Championship". Stats F1. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.