Sebastian Vettel
Max Verstappen is not the youngest two-time world champion in Formula 1, that was Sebastian Vettel in 2011. Heppenheimer was the prototype of the title production at Red Bull – and before Verstappen also the last winner in Suzuka 2019. He has a really deep relationship to this race track, love is mutual, so many German flags and Vettel banners as in Japan were not even to be discovered in Hockenheim before. It was a dignified farewell after a great ride through the spray.
Spinning after a collision with Alonso on the first lap, and then moving up from last place – as Aston Martin were the first team to switch from wet to mixed tyres. The sixth place was the reward. As happy as the Hessian could be, he was very upset about the recovery tractor that was parked right next to the slope on lap two: “There’s a lot to learn from that. We were just lucky that nothing happened.”
Eduardo Freitas
Being a race manager in Formula 1 is not a very rewarding task – at least since the season finale last year, when Michael Masi even cost his job by bending the law in favor of Max Verstappen. That’s why the job this year is occupied by two officials: the German Niels Wittich and the Portuguese Eduardo Freitas. But the Formula 1 world is still a stranger to both of them: Freitas was on duty in Suzuka, and his squad was responsible for the demolition, the restart and, above all, the title surprise for Verstappen. The decisive nuance in the rules that amazed the entire racing world and ensured the full number of points can be found in paragraph 6.5 of the regulations. Accordingly, reduced points are only awarded if a race is interrupted and no longer restarted. But the Japanese Grand Prix has resumed after being suspended for two hours after two laps. Point victory for Freitas.
Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly at Suzuka.
(Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Unlike Max Verstappen, the Frenchman never felt comfortable in the tough Red Bull Racing driver school. Three years ago he was allowed to drive twelve World Championship races alongside the Dutchman, then he was demoted back to the junior team Toro Rosso. Pro forma he had extended his contract this summer, but now took the first opportunity to escape – in future the 26-year-old will drive in a kind of French national team with compatriot Esteban Ocon at Alpine.
Gasly was the one who suddenly spotted a tractor at the edge of the runway in the Suzuka spray. The race had already been stopped, there were plenty of warnings for Gasly – but he was still running at full speed. He later received two penalty points for this. That doesn’t change his outrage, in 2014 he lost his friend Jules Bianchi under similar circumstances in Suzuka. Nevertheless, he could hardly be reassured: “That could have killed me! Remember what happened.”
Mike Schumacher
Feeling like Max Verstappen for once, even if only for a few seconds after everyone else has already turned off to change tires: The Haas driver no longer has the feeling of having been at the front, at least for a short time. After Friday practice’s massive crash, which left some serious dents in the reputation of the Suzuka newcomer, the 23-year-old once again proved that he can handle difficult circumstances quite well. Will that actually lead to a contract being signed at the next race in Austin, where team boss Gene Haas will be there?
In the paddock there are rumors of a one-year contract, after which Schumacher junior could then switch to the Audi camp. In addition to staying with the US racing team, only the Williams team would otherwise remain. He had the pace for a possible point place, but once again the strategists failed with the change tactics. Race director Günther Steiner grudgingly admits the mistake: “We were caught on the wrong foot.”
Nyck De Vries
Once is no? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that. Nyck De Vries has waited long enough for a chance to show off his skills in the premier class. He finally did that as a substitute at Williams in Monza and was ninth straight away. Suddenly, the 27-year-old was considered by many teams hot ticket. At dinner in Italy, Max Verstappen gave his compatriot a tip and a phone number: “Call Dr. Marko, you never know what will happen.” Shortly thereafter, de Vries was spotted in Graz, where the Red Bull talent scout has his office. Verstappen knows from his own experience: “If Helmut likes someone, he doesn’t shy away from giving them a cockpit. He likes to take more risks than others when choosing a driver.” Verstappen also knew: “It was exactly the right time to call. After my win, he was still in the best of spirits on Monday.”
Sergio Perez
Officially, he’s an adjutant at Red Bull Racing, but the Mexican seems to be world champion maker in real life. At last year’s finale in Abu Dhabi, Perez had prevented Lewis Hamilton from overtaking for a long time, which subsequently made Max Verstappen’s first title possible. This time he put the Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc under so much pressure in the final phase that he promptly made a mistake in the last corner and cut the track. For this, the Monegasse got five penalty seconds, swapped places on the podium with Perez – only then could Verstappen become champion in Suzuka. Perez is now tied with Leclerc in second overall and anyone at Red Bull Racing would heartily give him that spot. There is probably no better team player than the 32-year-old from Guadalajara.
Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen hesitantly sat down in the red armchair that had been made available for the world champion in the room behind the podium. Several times he asked in disbelief whether he was actually champion now. But then he was up there in the darkness of Suzuka, and in addition to his twelfth win of the season, he was also given his second title win prematurely.
Apparently, the 25-year-old is nothing but dramatic: “That’s the way it is with the rules, sometimes there are too few, sometimes too many.” However, it does not cast a shadow over his season, with his superiority and sovereignty, overall victory would have been only a matter of time anyway. The last remaining opponent, Charles Leclerc, knew that, and he did too – and noticed a difference to the previous year in the comparison process: “The first title was the more emotional, but the second is the nicer – because we were even better.” After this confirmation, his third world championship victory is now to come, with Red Bull in the Constructors’ World Championship.