Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched his fourth straight Formula 1 World Championship after finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The race saw Mercedes’ George Russell claim victory, leading a one-two finish with teammate Lewis Hamilton, who climbed from 10th on the grid to second place. Despite a quiet race, Verstappen’s finish secured him the title, as his closest rival, McLaren’s Lando Norris, finished sixth, leaving an unbridgeable points gap.
Verstappen joins racing legends Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel as a four-time champion, with only Michael Schumacher, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Hamilton ahead of him in total championships. Reflecting on his season, Verstappen said, “It has been a long season… to stand here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought possible.”
The Las Vegas race started dramatically, with Russell taking the lead early and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc jumping into second. A fierce battle between the Ferraris allowed Russell to stretch his lead. Meanwhile, Hamilton impressed with a strategic drive, advancing steadily and securing second place after a well-timed pit stop.
Verstappen’s measured drive kept him ahead of Norris throughout the race, ensuring he captured the championship at the earliest opportunity. In the final laps, Ferraris Carlos Sainz and Leclerc passed Verstappen, finishing third and fourth, reducing Ferrari’s gap to McLaren in the constructors’ championship to 24 points.
Norris set the fastest lap to gain an extra point for McLaren, while his teammate Oscar Piastri finished seventh. Rounding out the top 10 were Nico Hülkenberg, Yuki Tsunoda, and Sergio Pérez.
With two races left, the penultimate round in Qatar begins on November 29. The weekend will feature a sprint race and main event, adding to the season’s excitement.
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