Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton—and now Max Verstappen. The Dutch driver has added his name to the elite list of Formula 1 drivers with four or more world championships, securing his fourth consecutive title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Winning in Adversity
On a weekend where the Red Bull RB20 wasn’t the fastest car on track, Verstappen did what was necessary to fend off his last title challenger, Lando Norris. Finishing P5 to Norris’s P6, Verstappen clinched the championship, with Norris needing to outscore him by three points to keep his title hopes alive.
Reflecting on a Challenging Season
Looking back on his fourth title-winning season—one that began with seven wins in the first 10 races before a 10-race drought between Spain and São Paulo—Verstappen said:
“It’s been a long season, and of course, we started great, almost surfing a wave. But then we hit a rough patch. As a team, we kept our spirits up, kept improving, and came out victorious. I’m incredibly proud of everyone and what they’ve done for me. Right now, I feel relieved in some ways but also very proud.”
Dreams and Reality
When asked if he ever envisioned becoming a four-time champion when he entered the sport at 17, Verstappen chuckled:
“Definitely not! I was just happy to be there, dreaming of potential wins or podiums—which in itself is already hard to achieve. After some tough years, we made progress and took off with the new concept in 2022. Standing here now as a four-time world champion is unbelievable.”
Ranking the Titles
On where this title ranks among his previous championships, Verstappen admitted his preference for the ease of his dominant 2023 campaign—where he won 19 of 22 races—but acknowledged the lessons learned in 2024:
“It’s certainly been a tough season. Personally, it was challenging at times, and I had to stay calm. I still kind of like the previous season; I had a great time. But this season has taught me many valuable lessons. I’m so proud of how we handled it as a team. That makes it very special and a truly beautiful season.”
Verstappen is now concentrating on assisting Red Bull in their pursuit of a third consecutive constructors’ championship with two races remaining in 2024. The team currently sits third in the standings, trailing leaders McLaren by 53 points.
