Max Verstappen Claims Fourth F1 Championship at Las Vegas Grand Prix

Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship after finishing fifth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, surpassing McLaren's Lando Norris in the standings with two races remaining this season. Verstappen's points lead over Norris reached 63, guaranteeing him the title.

Verstappen, who started the race in fifth position, quickly moved up to second place by the 10th lap, with Norris unable to challenge him. The Red Bull driver's triumph makes him only the sixth driver in F1 history to achieve four championships.

“It's already hard enough to win one [championship], and then of course, you also need a bit of luck to be in the right team situation to maybe win more,” Verstappen said, reflecting on his journey.

Despite entering the season with low expectations, Verstappen's success exceeded his own expectations. “Maybe win a championship?” he added. “It's already hard enough to win one, and then of course, you also need a bit of luck to be in the right team situation to maybe win more.”

After securing the title, Verstappen received congratulations from his team principal, Christian Horner, who praised his achievement: “Max Verstappen you are a four-time world champion. That is a phenomenal, phenomenal achievement. You can be incredibly proud of yourself as we are.”

Verstappen expressed his gratitude over the team radio: “Oh My God, what a season. Four times. Thank you, thank you guys. We gave it all.”

The race itself saw George Russell take the victory, marking Mercedes' first 1-2 finish since 2022, with Lewis Hamilton finishing second after starting 10th. Carlos Sainz Jr. completed the podium in third, with his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in fourth.

The constructor championship remains tight, with McLaren leading Ferrari by 24 points ahead of the race in Qatar this weekend. Red Bull, having already won the constructor title in the past two seasons, currently sits third in the standings.

Verstappen, 27, has won eight races this season, with a winless streak from June to Brazil before securing his most recent victory.

As for the Las Vegas Grand Prix itself, the event was far smoother than last year, which had been marred by infrastructure delays, with locals and visitors critical of the event's execution. This year, with many of the logistical issues resolved, the race went ahead with fewer complications, drawing 306,000 fans over the weekend.

F1's American popularity continues to rise, with the Las Vegas race being the third stop in the U.S. alongside events in Miami and Austin. The grid is set to expand to 11 teams next season with the addition of an American team backed by General Motors' Cadillac brand, though the announcement was delayed to avoid overshadowing the Las Vegas Grand Prix.