Max Verstappen made history by securing his fourth Formula 1 World Championship with a composed fifth-place finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Dutch driver only needed to finish ahead of his title rival, Lando Norris, to claim the title, and he did so with a calm and assured drive. Verstappen’s consistent performance was enough to maintain his position ahead of Norris, allowing him to join the ranks of F1 legends with four world titles.
However, the spotlight was also on George Russell, who led Mercedes to a one-two finish in Las Vegas, claiming his first victory of the season. Starting from pole, Russell showed excellent control in challenging conditions. He successfully fended off a strong charge from Charles Leclerc early in the race, then held off his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who had made a remarkable recovery from 10th on the grid to finish second.
Russell’s victory marked Mercedes‘ first win since the Belgian Grand Prix in July, providing the team with a crucial boost after a difficult season. Meanwhile, Hamilton demonstrated his experience by making key overtakes in the latter stages of the race, finishing just behind his teammate. The result saw Mercedes achieve a double podium finish, proving their competitiveness against the dominant Red Bull team.
Although Verstappen secured the championship, he faced pressure throughout the race from Ferrari and Norris, who had hoped to push him further down the order. However, Verstappen’s intelligent strategy and his lack of resistance to the advancing Ferraris allowed him to hold his fifth-place position, securing the points needed to clinch the title.
While the individual championship was settled, the constructors’ battle remained tight, with Haas and Aston Martin continuing to fight for valuable points. In the final laps, Norris set the fastest lap, earning an extra point, but his hopes of a championship title officially ended with this result.
Verstappen’s victory in Las Vegas further solidified Red Bull’s dominance in the 2024 season, and at just 27 years old, Verstappen has firmly established himself as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Reflecting on his achievement, Verstappen said, “I’m incredibly proud of everyone, what they have done for me, and to stand here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought was possible.”
Though the 2024 F1 season is not over, with the Qatar Grand Prix coming up next, Verstappen’s Las Vegas triumph ensures his place in the sport’s history for years to come.
