Max Verstappen clinched his fourth-consecutive Formula 1 drivers’ title by finishing fifth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Red Bull driver arrived in Sin City knowing he would wrap up the championship as long as he didn’t drop three or more points to Lando Norris.
The championship contenders started alongside each other on the grid, but on the high-speed street circuit Red Bull had the advantage over McLaren and Verstappen quickly pulled away from his rival.
In an action-packed race, the Dutchman duelled with Mercedes and Ferrari drivers but ultimately could not compete with their pace, as polesitter George Russell claimed victory with Sir Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz completing the podium.
But the weekend belonged to Verstappen, who finished where he started, while Norris crossed the line over 20 seconds behind in sixth, to claim an historic title win.
‘Oh my god, man! What a season. Four times,’ an emotional Verstappen said on the team radio.
‘Thank you guys. Thank you to everyone. It was a little bit more difficult than last year but we pulled through and we gave it all.
‘I never thought this was possible but thanks to you guys it is, so thanks again.’
Verstappen had gone into 2024 as the heavy favourite and seemed destined to cruise to another title after winning seven of the opening 10 races.
However, McLaren and Ferrari have since had the better of Red Bull on pace leading to a wide open second-half of the season which has so far resulted in seven different winners in the last 12 grand prix.
Norris emerged as the closest challenger, but ultimately lacked the consistency and experience to mount what would have been an extraordinary comeback.
Verstappen’s latest triumph solidifies his status as one of the greatest drivers of all-time, moving level with Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel on four titles.
Only Juan Manuel Fangio (on five), Michael Schumacher and Hamilton (both on seven) have more.
Fangio, Vettel and Hamilton are also the only other drivers to have won four titles in a row and Verstappen will now look to equal Schumacher’s record of five in 2025.
Meanwhile, the constructors’ championship is yet to be decided with McLaren currently leading from Ferrari and Red Bull with two races left this year in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
More to follow…
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