FIA backed as F1 rules branded 'very simple' after Max Verstappen drama

The FIA ​​has been defended on its points rules after confusion in the moments after Max Verstappen's title win at the Japanese Grand Prix. Former F1 driver Christijan Albers has claimed the regulations are "clear" despite fans, media and even Red Bull baffled over the outcome of the championship.

Many believe that the race winner, Verstappen, would not receive full points because the race did not cover its full distance. That would have meant the Dutchman wouldn't have been the crowd champion at Suzuka even with Charles Leclerc's five-second penalty that promoted Sergio Perez to P2.

However, it later emerged that the full points system had been awarded as the race had resumed after a red flag stop. Article 6.5 states that different points will only be awarded if the Grand Prix "cannot resume".

Speaking to Dutch newspaper Telegraaf's F1 podcast, Albers said: "The big problem is that everyone is twiddling their thumbs all day on the circuit. There must be so much news every day that everyone everyone thinks too far and thinks about it, then thinks about the situation.

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"When you look at the rules and the paragraph where it says it, it says it very clearly. If a race isn't called off, and it isn't, then all the points are just given out. We we can talk about it for hours, but it's actually very simple."

Verstappen didn't realize he had won the championship when he got out of his car after the race. Johnny Herbert told the Red Bull star about his title win in his post-race interview, but Verstappen didn't seem to believe him.

Moments later, teammate Perez asked the Dutchman if he had secured the crown, to which Verstappen replied no. He was then corrected by an FIA official in the recovery room and directed to a special room reserved for the world champion.

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After the race, Sky Sports host Ted Kravitz revealed that Red Bull were reading the regulations after the checkered flag in an attempt to clarify whether they had secured the title. Team boss Christian Horner has confirmed that the team is unsure of the outcome and strongly believes the title battle will continue until the United States Grand Prix.

He explained: "I think it's a mistake that wasn't included after the problems at Spa last year," Horner told reporters after the race. We had the strong impression that only with 75% of the race completed will all points be scored.

"So we thought we would be one point short. But, in the end, Checo's decision on Charles gave Max the championship. So you can see his surprise, the team's surprise. But what a wonderful surprise."< /p>