MaxVerstappen wins the wild Japan GP and is proclaimed world champion.

 The Japanese GP was declared a full points race by Formula 1 despite only 29 laps being completed. As the rain came down in the build-up to Sunday's grand prix, the action got underway on a wet track with first lap carnage that resulted in a red flag. After more than two hours, the grand prix resumed with 40 minutes on the clock and Verstappen in a race against time to win the World title. He needed 37 laps of racing for full points to be awarded but with only 29 covered in total, it was points column three, 19 for the win, so it looked as if win number 12 was not enough to hand him the title. The Japanese Grand Prix was declared a full points race after F1 announced that he had won the World title. 

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For the second week in a row, Formula 1 had a wet race, but with the conditions borderline for full wets. After some debate Race Control declared a standing start, Leclerc pulling away better than Verstappen only for the Red Bull driver to find grip and speed, and by the time they hit the first corner, he was P1 Leclerc was second behind Perez. Sainz went aquaplaning into the barrier, Pierre Gasly was driving with a piece of advertising board as his new front wing, Zhou Guanyu was driving with a piece of advertising board as his new front wing, and Alex Albon was driving with a piece of advertising board as his The car has a red flag. The driver of the Alpha Tauri garage was angry. The driver of the recovery vehicle was in poor visibility when he passed him on the track. Race Control suspended the restart at 2:50pm with the conditions getting better.

The drivers left the pits on full wets behind the Safety Car as Race Control announced the start time. Most of the drivers seemed happy with the conditions, although those further behind like Valtteri Bottas reported visibility was poor. The conditions were not too bad, but visibility was a problem. Race Control declared a rolling start with 40 minutes of racing after deeming the conditions okay. Verstappen lead ahead of Leclerc, the two pulling away from Perez, and the two at the back of the field immediately gambled on inters. Mick Schumacher was the leader of the grand prix, but was kept out of the race by the team that wanted a Safety Car. Verstappen was P2 ahead of Leclerc, but they didn't have time to pass the German, who plummeted down the order. At the front, Verstappen pulled away from Leclerc, the reigning World Champion showing no signs of trouble on the slippery surface.

Leclerc ran comfortably ahead of Perez who had a gap to P4. He was up to P6 with 20 minutes left. The Mercedes driver tried to pass Ocon multiple times but the Alpine's straight-line speed was equal to the W13's. Ahead of them Perez closed in on Leclerc, who was struggling with worn tyres, as was Alonso who took the gamble to pit for fresh inters with 10 minutes on the clock. As Verstappen took the chequered flag, his 12th of the season, ahead of Leclerc and Perez, the Mexican driver was unable to make a pass on the Ferrari despite sitting on his rear wing. Perez was elevated to P2 and Verstappen took the title after Leclerc was given a five-second post-race penalty. Ocon was fourth ahead of Hamilton. It was the first point of the season for Latifi.

Result

1 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull Racing

2 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull Racing +27.066

3 Charles LECLERC Ferrari +31.763

3 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull Racing +27.066

4 Esteban OCON Alpine +39.685

5 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes +40.326

6 Sebastian VETTEL Aston Martin +46.358

7 Fernando ALONSO Alpine +46.369

8 George RUSSELL Mercedes +47.661

9 Nicholas LATIFI William s+70.143

10 Lando NORRIS McLaren +70.782

11 Daniel RICCIARDO McLaren +72.877

12 Lance STROLL Aston Martin +73.904

13 Yuki TSUNODA AlphaTauri +75.599

14 Kevin MAGNUSSEN Haas F1 Team +86.016

15 Valtteri BOTTAS Alfa Romeo +86.496

16 Guanyu ZHOU Alfa Romeo +87.043

17 Pierre GASLY AlphaTauri +88.091

18 Mick SCHUMACHER Haas F1 Team +92.523