Max Verstappen takes fourth world title in Las Vegas: 'Very special'

Published on 24 November 2024 by Florence Cobben

Max Verstappen has claimed his fourth world championship title. On the streets of Las Vegas, the Oracle Red Bull Racing-driver took fifth place, giving him enough points to secure the coveted title. With his performance today, the Dutchman put the next closest contender for the title, Lando Norris, at an unbridgeable gap, once again underlining his domination in the world of motorsports. The evening was marked by a one-two for Mercedes; George Russell claimed the win, with teammate Lewis Hamilton in P2. Carlos Sainz drove his Ferrari into third place, followed by teammate Charles Leclerc in fourth.

After the race, a glowing Max reflects on his season: "It's been a long season. We started off amazing, it was almost like cruising. Then we had a tough run, but as a team we kept it together, we kept working on improvements and we pulled it over the line. I couldn't be more proud of everyone, what they have done for me. To stand here as a four-time world champion is something that I never thought would be possible. I'm feeling relieved, but also very proud. It was a very challenging season. Also as a person, at times it's very challenging and I had to be calm. I think in a way I still prefer last season, I enjoyed that a lot, but this season taught me a lot of lessons, and I'm very proud of how we handled it as a team. So that makes it a very special and beautiful season."

After a careful race, Max came over the finish line in fifth, something that doesn't bother the world champion, who prioritized securing the title: "In the last few laps, I was thinking on it. When I saw the Ferraris behind me, I didn't want to take too many risks. I always want to race and always get the best result but it wasn't necessary for this time. If I look back on my career 20 years from now, Las Vegas 2024 is not going to show up. I won the title, of course, but the race was nothing special.”

Could he have begun to dream of this, when he made his debut ten years ago? "Definitely not, I was just happy to be there. Just dreaming of potential victories or standing on the podium, normal things that are already very difficult to achieve. Then we got onto that run after a tough few years where we kept trying, and hit the ground running with the new concept. Like I said, to be standing here as a four-time world champion is just incredible."

Max is full of praise for his Oracle Red Bull Racing team, who celebrate his successes with him: "To the team...What can I say? We've been through a lot together, all these highs we're achieving right now, it's very special to do that with the group of people we have right now on the track and in the factory; they're continuously pushing flat out to give me a car that can fight for the title. To do that four times in a row is very special."

Max has words for the fans who supported him year-in, year-out: "To the fans, it's amazing to see them everywhere supporting me. I think they got a bit spoiled last year with all the wins, so they had to wait for a long time in the middle of the season. But incredible sport, always, and great to see them again, here as well."

The hunger for success is still there, and Max looks ahead to next year's title fight: "If you look to next year right now, I think it's going to be a proper battle between a lot of cars. But I'm hungry - I'm gonna enjoy this, but there are two more races where I want to do well. Then we take a little break and try again next year."

George Russell was fastest in qualifying and started the Las Vegas Grand Prix from pole position. Carlos Sainz was next to him on the front row, but it's the third row that drew the eyes of Formula 1 watchers: Max starts in P5, with his closest title rival Lando Norris next to him in P6. To clinch the world title, Max would have to finish in front of Lando. Suspense hangs over this race start. When the lights go green in Las Vegas, the entire grid gets away clean. Max is nearly hit by Yuki Tsunoda, but manages to maneuver himself out of the sticky situation into a more secure position. Magnussen has to let the Dutchman by. 

Max is promoted to fourth place after a maneuver on Pierre Gasly. The front of the grid is also seeing plenty of action: Leclerc has caught up to Russell and is going for first. The Brit defends well against the Ferrari-driver and manages to keep him behind. Leclerc drops in the standings - first overtaken by his teammate, and then Max, who is now in third place. Leclerc complains his tyres are failing him and is called into the pits. Norris, too, already has to head in during lap ten. Teammate Oscar Piastri gets a penalty of five seconds for a false start - the Australian was too far ahead in his starting position. 

It's lap twelve when Max heads into the pits to get a new set of hard tyres. He returns in seventh, but climbs into second in no time. Meanwhile, Gasly's race is suddenly cut short; the Frenchman complains on the radio that he has no power. Fumes of smoke escape his Alpine, and Gasly is forced to retire his car. 

Russell improves his gap to Verstappen to ten seconds. Halfway through the race, in lap 25, the top five are as follows: Russell, Verstappen, Sainz, Leclerc and Hamilton. Alexander Albon is the second driver to retire of the day: the team radios in to tell him the car needs to be called in, citing a problem with turbo. Many drivers struggle with the tyres, including Sainz. He asks again and again to pit, but is told to switch positions with Leclerc. After, he still tries to come in, but at the last moment returns to the track - the team was not ready for the Spaniard, but a lap later he is allowed to come in. Sainz is not happy and expresses his frustration over the radio. 

The Mercedes drivers, meanwhile, seem to be flying. With fifteen laps to go, Russell is still in the lead. Teammate Hamilton is chasing him down from second. Sergio Pérez, climbing up through the field, does a beautiful overtake on Lawson and Magnussen in one turn. All three go through the turn side-by-side, with Perez emerging the victor no worse for wear.

Hamilton begins to gain on Russell, while Sainz gains on Max. With just ten laps to go, Sainz launches the attack. He claims third place and Max is demoted to fourth. It's not long before childhood rival Leclerc also attempts a maneuver. While initially unsuccesful, it's not long before the Monagasque passes the Dutchman. 

The Las Vegas race ends with a one-two for Mercedes. George Russell drove a strong race and takes the win. Teammate Hamilton claims second place. Sainz completes the podium in third. Nevertheless, the man of the hour is Max Verstappen: his fifth clinches him his fourth worldchampionship title. Viva Las Vegas!

Results Grand Prix Las-vegas: