Max Verstappen claimed his fourth consecutive Formula One world championship with a solid fifth place for Red Bull at the Las Vegas Grand Prix , which was won in dominant fashion and with consummate control from the front of the grid by Mercedes’ George Russell. Verstappen delivered strongly to do exactly what was needed in beating his title rival McLaren’s Lando Norris, who came in sixth. Lewis Hamilton gave a superb comeback drive to claim second place from 10th on the grid.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were in third and fourth. The Dutch driver now stands alongside an elite group of drivers, matching the world championship tally of Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel. Only Juan Manuel Fangio with five and Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton on seven apiece have more.
Verstappen is still only 27 years old and on the form he has demonstrated this season further titles are surely within his grasp. While a win was not really on the cards for Verstappen given the speed of Mercedes and that Red Bull has struggled for pace in Las Vegas, he did enough to close out the title.He leads by 63 points with a maximum of 60 left available at the final two meetings in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
It is no little achievement by Verstappen, the hardest-fought of his four world championships. He has been outperformed by McLaren for almost all of the second half of the season, and struggled with a car that lacked balance. Verstappen had described it as “a monster”.
But to grind .