Las Vegas, NV – Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive Formula One World Drivers’ Championship in a thrilling Las Vegas Grand Prix where George Russell emerged victorious for Mercedes.
Heading into the weekend, Verstappen knew that beating his championship rival, Lando Norris, was crucial to clinching the title. Starting the race in fifth place, the Red Bull driver outpaced Norris who began in sixth, solidifying his championship lead by finishing fifth and making it impossible for Norris to catch up with only two races left in the season.
Verstappen now joins the ranks of F1 legends such as Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, and Sebastian Vettel as one of the few drivers to have won a minimum of four Drivers’ titles, further solidifying his place among the sport’s greats.
The Dutch driver expressed gratitude towards his team after the race, acknowledging the challenges faced throughout the season and emphasizing the team’s perseverance and hard work in achieving the championship title once again.
After a fierce battle with Hamilton in the previous championship, Verstappen’s dominance in the 2022 season and winning 19 out of 22 races the following year showcased an impressive performance, securing victory by a significant 300-point margin.
While Verstappen initially appeared to sail smoothly towards another title with seven wins in the first ten races, Red Bull’s pace began to wane as rivals like McLaren closed in. Despite only clinching one win in the following 12 races, Verstappen maintained enough points to stay ahead of Norris and secure the championship.
In a disappointing turn of events, Norris, who had put up a resilient fight throughout the campaign, couldn’t overcome the formidable Verstappen and expressed admiration for the Dutch driver’s relentless performance on the track.
Russell’s pole position win and Mercedes’ one-two finish with Hamilton claiming second place added to the excitement of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, marking a significant highlight in the season. With Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc securing third and fourth positions, respectively, the Constructors’ Championship race remains tight as the season heads to its final two races in Qatar and the UAE.