Checo Pérez finishes second in Verstappen's coronation during the Japanese Grand Prix

Checo Pérez and Max Verstappen celebrate the double and the two-time Formula 1 championship, this Sunday in Japan.ISSEI KATO (REUTERS)

It was the (Mexican) dawn of Verstappen's glory and the great opportunity for Checo Pérez to dazzle on the majestic Suzuka circuit.

The Mexicans, the faithful believers of their pilot, lived with insomnia the Formula 1 race in Japan that was paralyzed by the rain and the erratic decisions of the authorities.

After two hours without knowing if there would be a race, there was competition.

And go competition.

The Dutchman won to become the two-time champion.

And Pérez took second place after taking advantage of a mistake by Leclerc in the last meters before the finish line to give Red Bull a high celebration.

In Suzuka, the Mexican started the engines at full strength from fourth position.

The problem that arose on the track was, like last week in Singapore, the rain.

And what a start: Sainz and Albon were out of the race, Verstappen took care of the first place against Leclerc and Pérez managed to move up a position.

With just three laps, the authorities showed the red flag to clean the track and the pilots took shelter.

The mandatory break was not an exaggeration because the drivers had poor visibility, a crane entered the circuit by Sainz's Ferrari, which meant a serious incident in these times in Formula 1. "Is it not clear that we never want to see a crane on the track?” Pérez launched in the radio communication.

“What happened today is totally unacceptable.

I hope this is the last time I see a crane on the track, ”he added minutes later.

More information

Verstappen, two-time Formula 1 champion

The reference and context point to 2014 when on this same circuit the Frenchman Jules Bianchi crashed into a trailer that he was trying to help.

The pilot died months later.

"What the hell?

How is it possible that this happened.

We have lost our lives in these situations in years past.

We risk our lives, especially in these conditions.

We want to race, but in these conditions... It's unacceptable," Lando Norris wrote during the break.

Not all the technology around Formula 1 could beat nature.

After two hours, the race restarted behind the safety car.

It was only 39 minutes of racing, as intense as it was close.

The drivers had the tires with more grip in the rain, but a few laps later all the teams decided to change to the intermediate ones, a little faster in these conditions.

Checo Pérez managed to maintain his third place against his former teammate at Force India, Esteban Ocon, while Verstappen easily broke away from Leclerc.

The one from Guadalajara was fighting to deduct seconds from a Leclerc who had difficulties taking care of his tires.

The last ten minutes were a hunt by the Mexican against the Monegasque.

The Ferrari driver seemed to be in control, but a few meters from the finish he lost control of the car, went out and, with a miraculous maneuver, was able to recover to the limit of the regulation.

“Hey, hey, what are you doing!” Pérez reproached.

The stewards gave Leclerc a five-second penalty and handed the Mexican second place, something that brought down Ferrari's season by paving the way for Verstappen to the world title.

Pérez played, once again, as his luxury squire.

The double achieved in Japan is the fifth that Red Bull has obtained, the best mark in its history.

The races of the USA, Mexico,

The 24 podiums of Checo Pérez

Sergio Pérez Mendoza is in unstoppable mode.

The Mexican reached his twenty-fourth podium in Formula 1. He celebrates four victories: Shakhir 2020, Baku in 2021, Monaco and Singapore in 2022. In addition to 10 second places (Malaysia and Italy in 2012, Turkey in 2020, Australia, Imola, Spain, Baku, Great Britain, Belgium and Japan in 2022) and 10 third places (Canada, in 2012; Bahrain, in 2014; Russia, in 2015, Monaco and Baku in 2016 and 2018, at the Grand Prix of France, Turkey, United States and Mexico City in 2021).

subscribe here

to the

of EL PAÍS México and receive all the informative keys of the current affairs of this country