He was pushed tougher than he was a season in the past, however Saturday evening underneath the intense 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 checklist 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 is likely to 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 operating up in third after the second spherical of pit stops however didn’t end on the rostrum. Underneath strain from Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. for the ultimate podium place, Verstappen ultimately 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 via 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, might 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 combating 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 wonderful. It was nearly like cruising, however then we had a troublesome run. However as a crew, we saved it collectively,” mentioned Verstappen trackside to Terry Crews and Jenson Button. “We saved engaged on enhancements. And yeah, we pulled over the road. I imply, extremely happy with everybody, what they’ve finished for me. And to face right here as a four-time world champion is after all one thing that I by no means thought was doable. So yeah, for the time being, simply feeling relieved in a method, but in addition very proud.”
With this title, Verstappen pulls degree with Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel on the checklist of all-time Drivers’ Champions. Solely Juan Manuel Fangio (5), Michael Schumacher (seven), and Lewis Hamilton (seven) have received extra Drivers’ titles.
Verstappen conceded that successful a fourth title was not one thing he dreamed of when beginning his F1 profession.
“Undoubtedly not. I used to be simply comfortable to be there and dreaming of potential victories or standing on the rostrum, the conventional issues which might be already very tough to realize,” mentioned Verstappen. “Then we simply bought on to that run after, after all, a troublesome few years that we saved attempting after which we simply hit the bottom operating with a brand new idea, and like I mentioned, to be standing right here as a four-time world champion is simply unbelievable.”
Listed below are the complete 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 hanging distance, 53 factors behind McLaren.
