Max Verstappen Clinches Fourth F1 World Title with Fifth-Place Finish at Las Vegas GP

TDT | Manama

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Max Verstappen has secured his fourth Formula 1 world title with a fifth-place finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Sunday, 24 November 2024, extending his dominance in the sport. The Red Bull driver, 27, is now among an elite group of F1 champions, joining Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and others with four world titles.

Verstappen's title-clinching result came in a race won by George Russell in a Mercedes one-two, with Lewis Hamilton finishing second. Verstappen's closest challenger, McLaren’s Lando Norris, who needed to finish ahead of him to keep the title race alive, could only manage sixth place, thus ending any hopes of extending the fight into the final races of the season.

Having won his first title in the dramatic 2021 season, Verstappen has been the dominant force in Formula 1, winning every Drivers' Championship since then. This season, despite an unexpected slump in form from Red Bull and rising competition from McLaren and Ferrari, Verstappen’s consistent performances have kept him ahead. He now joins an exclusive group of drivers to have won four consecutive championships, a feat previously achieved by only a few in F1 history.

Reflecting on his success, Verstappen expressed his pride in securing the title, saying, "It’s been a long season. Of course, we started off amazing, it was almost like cruising but then we had a tough run. But as a team we kept it together, we kept working on improvement and we pulled over the line." He also acknowledged the challenges of the season but emphasized the collective effort that led to his triumph.

Despite Red Bull’s struggles in the Constructors' Championship, Verstappen’s ability to score consistently strong points – even as McLaren’s Norris mounted a late-season challenge – ensured that his lead remained secure. His remarkable drive at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where he won from 17th on the grid, reasserted his dominance, putting him back in control of the championship.

The Las Vegas GP marked another impressive performance from Verstappen, though he was ultimately shuffled off the podium due to a longer stint on hard tires. Nevertheless, his fifth-place finish was enough to seal the title, ahead of Norris, who was unable to capitalize on Verstappen’s slower pace.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner lauded Verstappen’s remarkable consistency and focus throughout the season. "He's been in a class of his own this year. He’s been absolutely outstanding,” Horner said. “He kept overdelivering, kept getting the results and performances. He deserves this fourth world championship.”

With two races left in the season, Verstappen will now look to extend his record-breaking career, while F1's season-ending triple-header continues next weekend with the Qatar Grand Prix.