Anti-hero still ready for title
F1 glossing over politics so not to spoil Verstappen joy
AT the start of the season Max Verstappen was particularly short when asked about how demands change as a world champion.
‘On weekends I’m there to race, I’m not there to entertain the crowds,’ the Dutchman said.
Every driver has their loyal legion of fans and so of course Verstappen has his but his role in this era of Formula One feels more like that of the anti-hero.
Riding the packed-out JR Express line down the south coast towards the Suzuka circuit here, fanatical Japanese fans talk of Abu Dhabi, when Verstappen controversially passed Lewis Hamilton on the last lap after intervention from race director Michael Masi to win his maiden title. They talk of the delayed publication of the 2021 budget cap report, which is due on Monday amid allegations, which have been denied, that Red Bull breached the £114million cap en route to Verstappen’s first title. They talk of Verstappen’s luck not to be stripped of pole position by stewards after a near-collision at Turn 15 with Lando Norris. That ended with a reprimand, nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
Right now, Verstappen is the best driver in the best car, that much is undeniable and he will be a worthy champion.
But there is also an inescapable belief that everyone is doing all they can to avoid spoiling what appears to have been a carefully choreographed title party here at the home of Honda, the manufacturer inextricably linked to Red Bull, having powered the 25-year-old to glory last season. Fans have streamed through the gates with ‘2022 World
Champion’ banners and flags. The bourgeoisie in the Paddock Club tittered yesterday about meeting yet another crowned champion at Suzuka (there have been 11 of them in Formula One, with Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Ayrton Senna among that exclusive club).
Talk of the budget cap is what has irked Verstappen most of all since he touched down in Singapore for the previous race.
What started out as something closer to rumour than fact in Italian media soon extrapolated into suggestions of Verstappen having his 2021 title stripped and awarded to Hamilton.
It is understood that is highly improbable, with Red Bull adamant no breach has taken place and while the FIA verdict was due last Wednesday, the pre-planned coronation in Japan looked set to become nothing more than a side show. Cue a convenient delay.
Figures at the FIA have spoken of the complexity involved in analysing the accounts from last season as the cause but the timing of the delay felt, and feels, significant.
Verstappen brushed off all questions on it as a result. Here to race not to get into the sport’s political warfare was the line he took.
Then came qualifying and his fifth pole position of the season, blowing the rest of the field away to top the pile. The plan was running exactly as the powers that be had no doubt envisioned it.
A stewards enquiry followed, a
fuming Norris claimed a grid penalty and subsequent stripping of pole position was ‘for sure’ going to happen for dangerous driving. But dropping Verstappen back five places, behind two rapid Ferraris, his Red Bull running mate Sergio Perez and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon would have jeopardised today’s perfect day. No grid penalty, no punishment. On the show would go.
Depending on who was asked, incredulity followed, as it often does around decision-making on Verstappen. An anti-hero? To many. Not that he will care, not least when he is staring back at title No2.