Verstappen leads the pack across the wet Suzuka track yesterday. Pic/AFP

Verstappen was only informed he had retained his title midway through the post-race TV interview, and even the driver himself was not sure. Ferrari’s Leclerc crossed the line second in front of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, but he was hit with a penalty after squeezing Perez in the final chicane and being deemed to have gained an advantage by leaving the track. The amended result gave Verstappen an unassailable 113-point lead over Perez and made him only the third driver after Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel to clinch the title with four races to spare. “I was told I was the world champion, we celebrated and then people told me ‘no, you’re still missing a point’,” he said of the post-race confusion. “Eventually we had enough points, so we were world champion again.”

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Chaotic start

The race got off to a chaotic start in heavy rain. Leclerc was quicker off the line than pole sitter Verstappen, who admitted he made “a terrible start”, before the Dutchman regained the lead with a brave overtake on Turn One.

Also Read: Max Verstappen: Rain will spice it up

Drivers world championship positions (Top 5)

1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing - 366 pts 
2) Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing - 253 pts
3) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari - 252 pts
4) George Russell, Mercedes - 207 pts
5) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari - 202 pts

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