Japanese GP: Successful race for Williams Racing

With rain falling prior to the start of the fifty three lap 2022 Japanese Grand Prix we would see the Williams drivers Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi stating from 16th and 19th. Both Williams drivers were on the intermediate tyre for the race start. On pole was Verstappen followed by Leclerc, Sainz, Perez, Ocon, Hamilton, Alonso, Russell, Vettel and Norris tenth. Gasly would be required to start from the pits due to changes to his car. As for tyres the field were all on the intermediate tyre.

The grid would complete their parade lap and with the start it would be Verstappen leading from Leclerc and Perez. Alex was now 15th and Nicholas 17th as Vettel spun dropping to last. Next we would see Sainz crash into the barrier seeing the Safety Car deployed. Alex had also dropped down the order having gone off seeing his race end. Gasly would pit taking on the full wet tyre. Alex was to suffer a failure with his car seeing him forced to stop. The race would be Red Flagged as the rain got heavier. For Williams Nicholas was now 15th. Nicholas was saying the track was OK from a driveability point of view it was the lack of visibility that was the issue. It was later confirmed that Alex's issues had been caused by making contact with other cars which did the damage to his hydraulics.

After a lengthy delay the race restart would be suspended. But it would finally be restarted but behind the Safety Car with all remaining drivers been required to use the full wet tyre. Verstappen continued to lead the field while for Williams Nicholas was 15th. The Safety Car would enter the pits in what was now a timed race and we would see Vettel and Latifi pit changing to the intermediates. More cars would join them Norris and Bottas. Then all of a sudden everyone would come in to also change to intermediates. This would see Alonso leading the race from Ricciardo and Schumacher. Nicholas was now running 11th. Alonso would pit seeing Verstappen now leading from Schumacher, Leclerc, Zhou, Perez, Ocon, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso and Nicholas now 10th.

Zhou would pit seeing Nicholas now 9th behind Alonso. Verstappen continued to lead from Leclerc, Perez, Ocon, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Nicholas, Norris and Schumacher. Schumacher would pit changing from the full wet to the intermediate. With it now been a timed race there was twenty minutes remaining as Verstappen expended his lead to be 10.7s ahead of Leclerc. Perez was till third from Ocon, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Nicholas, Russell and Norris tenth. Fifteen minutes remaining and the order was remaining static but Ocon was been very defensive with Hamilton.

Russell would finally close the gap and pass Nicholas seeing the Williams now ninth 4s ahead of Norris. Alonso would pit dropping to tenth taking new intermediates. This would see Nicholas now eighth. But the Alpine with the new tyre advantage would get past the Williams seeing Nicholas again ninth. With one lap left Verstappen was leading comfortably from Leclerc and Perez. Ocon was fourth followed by Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Russell, Nicholas, and Norris. Verstappen would win but Leclerc would make a mistake at the final chicane cutting in an coming back on in what was fairly unsafe.

With his ninth place Nicholas would secure two points which does not change much in the grand scheme of things in terms of the championship position but it was still a fantastic result for all at Williams Racing. It would be confirmed that Leclerc would receive a 5 second penalty and as a result Verstappen was 2022 World Champion. The finishing order was now Verstappen, Perez, Leclerc, Vettel, Alonso, Russell, Nicholas and Norris tenth. Overall the Williams Racing Team and Nicholas had taken the opportunity presented by this very unusual race and secure a points scoring result.