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Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, joining an elite group of drivers with four or more titles, including Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel, Juan Manuel Fangio, Michael Schumacher, and Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen's fifth-place finish was enough to clinch the championship, as his closest rival, Lando Norris, finished sixth, leaving an unbridgeable 63-point gap with only 60 points remaining in the season.
"What a season," Verstappen told his team. "It was a little more difficult than last season, but we pulled through. To stand here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought possible."
The Dutchman's victory adds to an already illustrious career, which began with his controversial 2021 title win and continued with dominant seasons in 2022 and 2023, where he claimed 19 out of 22 races. This year, however, proved more challenging as Red Bull faced stiff competition from McLaren and Ferrari, with Norris and other rivals gaining ground mid-season.
Despite early-season dominance, winning four of the first five races, Verstappen faced an eight-race winless streak after Spain. McLaren's resurgence and Norris' consistent performances tightened the standings, but Verstappen's exceptional drive in Brazil—from 17th on the grid to victory in wet conditions—proved decisive. "It's been a long season, and we started amazing, almost like cruising, but then we had a tough run," Verstappen said.
In Las Vegas, the race was won by Mercedes' George Russell, who led a one-two finish ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. Russell controlled the race from the start, fending off challenges from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Hamilton, starting 10th, displayed strategic brilliance to claim second, while Sainz secured third after overtaking Verstappen in the closing laps.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali praised Verstappen, saying, "I want to congratulate Max on an incredible season and his fourth world title. He is a true great of this sport."
With a contract until 2028, the Dutchman now sets his sights on matching Schumacher's record of five consecutive titles.
