Verstappen wins chaotic, rain-shortened Japanese GP to clinch title

Max Verstappen sealed his second Formula 1 world championship amid huge confusion after winning a chaotic, rain-shortened Japanese Grand Prix.

There was huge confusion at the chequered flag amid uncertainty over whether full or partial points would be awarded for a race in which only 29 of the 53 scheduled laps were completed.

Regardless of whether or not full points were awarded, Verstappen would have been denied the title if Charles Leclerc had come second, but the Ferrari driver’s final-lap error saw him given a five-second penalty that demoted him to third behind the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez.

The race had earlier threatened to be overshadowed by controversy, as an initial attempt to start in heavy rain resulted in chaos, with Carlos Sainz crashing into a barrier, before a recovery tractor came on track before the race had been red flagged, with the cars still on the circuit.

More to follow…