Max Verstappen: Rain will spice it up

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen during a press conference ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix in Tokyo yesterday. Pic/AFP

Title-chasing Max Verstappen said on Wednesday that the prospect of rain at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix could "spice things up" as he looks to clinch his second straight Formula One championship. The flying Dutchman can claim the title with four races to spare in Suzuka if he gains eight points on nearest rival Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and six on Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. The Japanese Grand Prix is returning after a three-year absence because of the Coronavirus pandemic, and rain has been forecast for Sunday's race.

Changing conditions

Verstappen has dominated this season's championship with 11 wins from 17 Grands Prix and he predicted an "exciting race with changing conditions" as he spoke to reporters in Tokyo. "Let's see what the weather will do because I see there is a bit of rain forecast, that might spice things up a little bit," said the 25-year-old, who finished seventh at last week's Singapore Grand Prix.

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"We're looking forward to Suzuka again because we're on a high as a team, we've won a lot of races in a row now, and of course we want to keep that momentum going." A heavy rain storm caused a delay of more than an hour to the start of the Singapore Grand Prix, which was won by Perez. Verstappen's seventh-place finish edged him closer to the title and he will become only the third driver after Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel to clinch the championship with four races to spare if he win in Suzuka.

Verstappen has never won the Japanese GP but he's looking forward to racing here again. "Nothing feels like here in Suzuka because of just the old-school nature - the gravel and the grass," he said.

FIA investigation

Casting a shadow over the race in Japan will be the investigation from the governing body FIA into 2021 team spending. Rival teams claimed at the Singapore GP that Red Bull and Aston Martin had spent more than the $145 million cost cap. If Red Bull are found to have broken the rules, it would cast a further shadow over Verstappen's first world title.

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