By STEPHEN WADE, AP Sports Author
SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — Red Bull driver Max Verstappen clinched his second consecutive Formula One drivers’ title by winning the Japanese Grand Prix within the rain at Suzuka on Sunday.
Verstappen has been dominant all season and claimed the title with 4 races remaining.
The Dutchman began from pole in pouring rain just for the race to be stopped after two laps as several cars crashed. It was resumed two hours later with 28 of the 53 laps accomplished and Verstappen leading the entire way.
He was followed by teammate Sergio Perez in second and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. They were the one drivers who could have overtaken Verstappen for the title.
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Verstappen now has an unsurmountable lead with 366 points. Perez has 253 and Leclerc 252.
In the beginning, Verstappen took the lead with a dangerous pass after a slow start but several cars lost control including Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who spun and was knocked out.
Organisers stopped the race after two laps. AlphaTaura’s Pierre Gasly complained on his radio that he passed a recovery vehicle that was allowed on to the track shortly after the security automotive emerged. This incident apparently got here just because the race was red flagged.
This can be a sensitive issue in Japan. In 2014, French driver Jules Bianchi collided on the course with a recovery vehicle. He was placed in an induced coma and died nine months later.
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