Max Verstappen wins 4th straight F1 world championship as George Russell wins Las Vegas Grand Prix
Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship title on Saturday night at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Red Bull racer finished in fifth place, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris who came in sixth. Verstappen needed to outscore Norris to secure the championship win, and he did just that.
The weekend was not without its challenges for Verstappen and his team. A rear wing adjustment mistake by Red Bull caused his car to run slower on the straightaways compared to Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Despite this setback, Verstappen managed to qualify in fifth place, while Norris qualified in sixth.
Mercedes drivers dominated the race, with Russell taking the win and Hamilton finishing in second place. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz secured a podium spot in third place. Verstappen’s fifth-place finish was enough to tie him with Sebastian Vettel, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Hamilton for four consecutive world titles. Michael Schumacher and Hamilton hold the record with seven world titles each.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix saw challenging weather conditions with cold temperatures and strong winds throughout the weekend. Drivers struggled with slipping and sliding during practice sessions but picked up the pace in qualifying. The race itself was relatively clean, with only one major incident involving Franco Colapinto.
With two races remaining on the F1 schedule, the constructors’ championship is still up for grabs. McLaren entered the weekend 36 points ahead of Ferrari in the standings, but after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, their lead has been reduced to 24 points. McLaren currently has 608 points, while Ferrari has 584 points.
Looking ahead, the F1 season continues with the Qatar Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The competition remains fierce, and fans can expect an exciting conclusion to the 2024 season.
