He was pushed more durable than he was a season in the past, however Saturday evening beneath the brilliant lights of Sin Metropolis, Max Verstappen clinched his fourth straight System 1 Drivers’ Championship.
Verstappen entered the week with a number of roads to his fourth straight title, as Lando Norris confronted a slim pathway to maintain his personal championship hopes alive. Verstappen checked off the primary merchandise on his to-do record on Friday evening, when he certified simply forward of Norris for Saturday evening’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. The 2 began alongside one another within the third row, with Norris in sixth and Verstappen simply forward of him in fifth.
That meant the battle for the title could be determined heading into Flip 1 Saturday evening, and Verstappen maintained that benefit over Norris, earlier than slowly pulling away from the McLaren driver. He was working up in third after the second spherical of pit stops however didn’t end on the rostrum. Underneath stress from Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. for the ultimate podium place, Verstappen finally slid again to fifth, content material with ending in entrance of Norris, and capturing his fourth title.
Norris settled for sixth and picked up a bonus level as he pitted within the closing levels for a set of sentimental tires to choose up the quickest lap of the race.
On the entrance, George Russell delivered a commanding wire-to-wire efficiency to win from pole place and seize his second victory of the season. Teammate Lewis Hamilton, who began tenth, charged by way of the sector to complete in second, capping off a dominant week in Las Vegas for Mercedes.
The Ferrari duo of Sainz and Leclerc completed third and fourth, respectively.
However the story was Verstappen, who whereas not as dominant as he was a season in the past, may need been simply as spectacular all through 2024. Whereas the RB20 was not the premium package deal its predecessor was, Verstappen’s consistency had him preventing on the entrance week in and week out, making him a champion Saturday evening.
“Yeah, it’s been a protracted season. And naturally, we began off superb. It was nearly like cruising, however then we had a tricky run. However as a workforce, we stored it collectively,” stated Verstappen trackside to Terry Crews and Jenson Button. “We stored engaged on enhancements. And yeah, we pulled over the road. I imply, extremely happy with everybody, what they’ve accomplished for me. And to face right here as a four-time world champion is in fact one thing that I by no means thought was attainable. So yeah, in the meanwhile, simply feeling relieved in a method, but additionally very proud.”
With this title, Verstappen pulls stage with Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel on the record of all-time Drivers’ Champions. Solely Juan Manuel Fangio (5), Michael Schumacher (seven), and Lewis Hamilton (seven) have gained extra Drivers’ titles.
Verstappen conceded that successful a fourth title was not one thing he dreamed of when beginning his F1 profession.
“Positively not. I used to be simply joyful to be there and dreaming of potential victories or standing on the rostrum, the conventional issues which can be already very tough to realize,” stated Verstappen. “Then we simply received on to that run after, in fact, a tricky few years that we stored making an attempt after which we simply hit the bottom working with a brand new idea, and like I stated, to be standing right here as a four-time world champion is simply unbelievable.”
Listed here are the total outcomes from the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix:
The grid now shifts to Qatar for the Qatar Grand Prix subsequent weekend. Whereas the Drivers’ title has been determined, the race for the Constructors’ Championship stays tight. McLaren’s lead over Ferrari was shaved right down to 24 factors on Saturday evening, whereas Pink Bull stays in putting distance, 53 factors behind McLaren.
