Red Bull driver Max Verstappen captured the 2022 F1 World Championship in extremely wet conditions at the Japanese Grand Prix on the Suzuka Circuit, Mei Prefecture, Japan.

The World Championship is the Belgian-Dutch driver's second World Championship and his first back-to-back. Verstappen was crowned on the 18th Grand Prix with a staggering four races remaining.

Verstappen has 32 career wins and an astounding 12 of the 18 race wins in the 2022 season.

A post-race five-second penalty for Charles Leclerc, demoting the Ferrari to third, sealed the title for Verstappen while giving Verstappen's teammate, Sergio Perez, the second finishing position.

Alpine's Esteban Ocon and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five.

All teams finished the rain shortened 29 lap race except for Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon who were retired on Lap 1 after which a near three hour rain delay ensued.

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RESULTS
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Pos	Driver		Team		Time	Gap

1	Verstappen	Red Bull	28	3h 01:44.001
2	Perez		Red Bull	28	+ 0:27.066
3	Leclerc		Ferrari		28	+ 0:31.763
4	Ocon		Alpine		28	+ 0:39.685
5	Hamilton	Mercedes	28	+ 0:40.326
6	Vettel		Aston Martin	28	+ 0:46.358
7	Alonso		Alpine		28	+ 0:46.369
8	Russell		Mercedes	28	+ 0:47.661
9	Latifi		Williams	28	+ 1:10.143
10	Norris		McLaren		28	+ 1:10.782
11	Ricciardo	McLaren		28	+ 1:12.877
12	Stroll		Aston Martin	28	+ 1:13.904
13	Tsunoda		AlphaTauri	28	+ 1:15.599
14	Magnussen	Haas		28	+ 1:26.016
15	Bottas		Alfa Romeo	28	+ 1:26.496
16	Zhou		Alfa Romeo	28	+ 1:27.043
17	Schumacher	Haas		28	+ 1:32.523
18	Gasly		AlphaTauri	28	+ 1:48.091
	Sainz		Ferrari		0	Spun Off
	Albon		Williams	0	Accident Damage