Verstappen could join exclusive F1 drivers group with title win in Japan

Max Verstappen could join this exclusive list of Formula 1 World Champions if he manages to win the 2022 title this weekend in Japan. The Japanese Grand Prix used to be the venue for securing World Championships, but that hasn't been the case in recent years. 

What does Verstappen need?

This is the second time in 2022 whereby Verstappen has been on 'match point'. He could've won the title last weekend in Singapore but needed a mini-miracle for it to happen. Things didn't go well for the Dutchman under the floodlights, but that misfortune could create the perfect party for Honda and the Japanese fans in Suzuka. 

If Verstappen wins the race and secures the bonus point for the fastest lap, he will win the 2022 World Championship regardless of what Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc do in the Grand Prix. That means that Verstappen needs an eight-point margin between himself and Leclerc this weekend. He also needs to finish six points ahead of Perez. Should Verstappen win the race without the fastest lap, Leclerc can finish second and prolong the celebrations. 

The list of Japanese Grand Prix champions

The Japanese Grand Prix used to fall at the end of the calendar. But given the sport's growth over the last 20 years, that hasn't been the case. These days, the last race is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and that was the venue of Verstappen's win in 2021. The Red Bull driver has been far more dominant in 2022 and could win the title with trips to Mexico, Brazil, United States and Abu Dhabi remaining on the schedule. 

The last world champion crowned in Japan was Sebastian Vettel in 2011. Perhaps ironically, that was Vettel's second world championship title for Red Bull Racing, one year after winning his first. On that day, Vettel finished in third-place. Jenson Button, P2 in the championship, did all he could by winning the race but Vettel's podium gave him enough points. 

We then have to scroll all the way back to 2003 to find our next World Champion crowned in Japan, this time Michael Schumacher celebrated the title by winning the race in Japan. Schumacher also recorded the feat in the year 2000. But one year earlier, Mika Hakkinen secured his second world championship title for McLaren. A back-to-back title win for the Finnish driver in Japan. 

Perhaps the most famous title win in Japan came with Damon Hill. He battled Schumacher for the title, and ended up coming out on top with the famous Murray Walker line: "I've got to stop because I've got a lump in my throat." Aryton Senna won all three of his World Championship crowns in Japan, including a famous McLaren battle with Alain Prost. The Frenchman also claimed his 1989 title in the land of the rising sun. Nelson Piquet and James Hunt were the first two names on the special list.