Max Verstappen topped world champion after terrifying tractor incident sparks recollections of Jules Bianchi’s dying

Max Verstappen has gained the Components 1 world drivers’ championship after victory within the Japanese Grand Prix, securing glory with 4 races remaining within the season.

The Dutchman clinched his second world title after his teammate Sergio Perez was awarded second place when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc — who crossed the road in second — was given a five-second-penalty for chopping the nook on the ultimate lap of the race.

Verstappen has dominated the circuit this season, having gained 12 of the 18 races in 2022.

However the principle speaking level of the day got here when the race was red-flagged on the second lap.

French racing driver Pierre Gasly drove previous a tractor on observe at pace, eight years after Jules Bianchi misplaced his life on the similar observe.

Sunday’s F1 race was red-flagged after two laps as heavy rain poured down at Suzuka, with Carlos Sainz crashing on the opening lap.

To recuperate Sainz’s wrecked Ferrari, a tractor was on observe to take away the automobile whereas the remainder of the sector was nonetheless going across the circuit behind the security automobile.

AlphaTauri driver Gasly, who pitted after a signage board broken his entrance wing, was going at a sooner pace to catch as much as the group when he handed the tractor.

It was scenes eerily much like 2014 when Jules Bianchi slid off the observe at Suzuka and crashed right into a tractor that was recovering a broken automobile.

Bianchi died from the accidents sustained in that crash.

Gasly was visibly irritated when he acquired again to the pits after the race was stopped.

All different vehicles on the observe additionally handed the tractor, however they have been going at significantly slower speeds behind the security automobile.

The crimson flag to cease the race got here out as Gasly was approaching the tractor, which was tough to see within the terrible circumstances.

After listening to a driver had gone previous a tractor on observe at pace, Sainz mentioned there was no want for that sort of car whereas vehicles will nonetheless be on the circuit in dangerous circumstances.

“So if one driver decides to get a bit out of the racing line, or has small aquaplaning, or has to alter a change on his steering wheel and will get a bit out of line and hits a tractor, it is throughout”.

McLaren driver Lando Norris was fuming on social media through the race stoppage.

“We misplaced a life on this scenario years in the past,” he mentioned.

“We threat our lives, particularly in circumstances like this. We wanna race. However this … Unacceptable.”

Purple Bull boss Christian Horner was equally annoyed a tractor was on the circuit. 

“There must be a full investigation as to why there was a restoration car on the circuit.”

Former F1 driver Martin Brundle mentioned Gasly — who was believed to be going sooner than he ought to have — mentioned the Frenchman didn’t deserve all of the blame and the restoration car mustn’t have been out till all rivals have been behind the security automobile.

“Ought to have been an immediate crimson flag with a stricken automobile in a vital place in these circumstances,” he mentioned on social media.

“Ought to NEVER EVER be a tractor on observe till the vehicles are all collected up behind a security automobile or within the pits.”