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Max vs Leclerc Suzuka 2022 (Photograph: Instagram)
The 2022 Japanese Grand Prix was an unforgettable race for many drivers as the yearly torrential rain tore the Suzuka Circuit upside down. It was Max Vertsappen, the pole sitter, where he was battling against Ferrari’s Charles leclerc.The Red Bull driver had won his first Formula 1 world title the previous year and was defending against Leclerc.
The Suzuka Circuit is one of the world's most dangerous race tracks, with many hairpin bends and high-speed corners. The rain influenced the conditions, making the track even more dangerous to drive. The F1 drivers risked themselves to race under heavy rain. Max Verstappen was the pole sitter, followed by the Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Max vs Leclerc battle at Suzuka 2022
On the Opening lap, it was all rain, and the standing water on the track made it impossible for the drivers at the back end to see anything. Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc had a great start to the race, but the water dispensing from their tyres made it worse for the drivers behind them.
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On turn 1, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon and Sebastian Vettel all went wide off the track due to spinning. The drivers didn't have any idea of what was lying ahead of them. After many red flags, the race was called off after just 28 laps of racing. Max was declared the winner, and Leclerc was given a five-second penalty for cutting the corner against Sergio Perez.
The dispatching of the recovery vehicle could have been fatal for Pierre Gasly, as he missed the recovery truck by a whisker. There was no visibility to the track due to heavy rain, and the recovery vehicle was dispatched without informing the F1 teams.
Gasly complained that the vehicle could have killed him if he had not turned on time. A similar incident took his close friend Jules Bianchi's life during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Many slammed the Japanese race organisers for disrespecting the drivers, and the FIA declared an immediate investigation. Verstappen won his 12th race of the year and successfully defended his title.
ALSO WATCH: F1 Flashback: When Max Verstappen spoiled Sebastian Vettel’s fifth title hopes at the 2018 Japanese GP