Max Verstappen Secures Fourth Consecutive Formula 1 Championship in Las Vegas
Las Vegas was the epicenter of excitement late Saturday night as Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship. What an incredible moment it was for the racing world! Verstappen didn’t need to finish in any glitzy position; a simple fifth allowed him to outpace Lando Norris and seal the deal with two races to go. It’s a remarkable achievement placing him alongside racing legends like Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Michael Schumacher, and Juan Manuel Fangio—all of whom have managed to capture at least four titles.
Dominance in F1
To put things into perspective, Verstappen’s recent victory continues an era of dominance that F1 fans have observed. For the past eight seasons, there have only been two champions: Verstappen and Hamilton. Throw in Nico Rosberg’s championship win in 2016, and you’ve got just four drivers who’ve tasted championship success since Jenson Button captured the crown back in 2009. Isn’t that wild?
A Rocky Start
In typical racing fashion, the journey to the championship wasn’t without its bumps in the road. The weekend kicked off on a shaky note for Verstappen and his team, Red Bull. They were chasing the right pace throughout the first two practice sessions and even brought along the wrong rear wing—yikes! They showed up with a more downforce wing instead of the lighter one that would have suited the long straight on Las Vegas Boulevard.
But as we now know, these early hurdles didn’t dampen Verstappen’s performance. He ended up qualifying fifth and made quick work of driving up to second place early in the race. Sure, he fell back in the latter stages, but Verstappen was comfortably ahead of Norris, who finished sixth—nearly a whopping 10 seconds behind him. Just to emphasize how relaxed Verstappen was, Norris made a pit stop near the end of the race to grab fresh tires and go for the fastest lap, but it hardly posed any threat to the championship.
A Year of Change
Now, here’s the kicker. While Verstappen secured his title, the 2024 season has been a bit different compared to the juggernaut seasons of 2023 and 2022. Check this out: he has only eight wins out of 22 races this year, compared to 19 out of 22 in 2023 and 15 out of 22 in 2022. Despite these stats, he remained the standout driver, making the most of a car that simply wasn’t as dominant as it has been previously. His teammate, Sergio Perez, was having a rough time, but Verstappen wrangled the best performance out of the car, even snapping a 10-race winless streak just earlier this month at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Race Highlights
As for the race in Las Vegas, the victory went to none other than George Russell from Mercedes, who managed to lead every lap—what a performance! Hamilton, starting from 10th position, rallied hard to come in second but burned through his tires trying to catch Russell. It’s a classic ‘what could have been’ story; a better qualifying round might have changed the outcome for Hamilton as he couldn’t deliver a solid final lap.
The Final Standings
So, how did the finishing order shake out?
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
- Yuki Tsunoda, RB
- Sergio Perez, Red Bull
The race saw other talents like Fernando Alonso, Kevin Magnussen, and Valtteri Bottas trying to make their mark, but the spotlight clearly belonged on Verstappen and the championship chase.
What’s Next?
With two races remaining, all eyes are on Verstappen to see how he wants to wrap up this season. While it hasn’t been all smooth sailing, his resilience showcased the spirit of a champion. Here’s hoping for more exciting races ahead!
