Max Verstappen wins Formula One World Drivers’ Championship 2024 title
Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive Formula One world title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 on Saturday. The 27-year-old Dutchman finished fifth in a race won by Mercedes’ George Russell and became the sixth man to claim four championships after Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio, Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost. McLaren’s Lando Norris, who was Verstappen’s only title rival, finished sixth. “Oh my God, what a season, four times, thank you guys,” Verstappen told his Red Bull team over the radio. “It’s a bit more difficult than last year, but we got through. Thank you very much to everyone.” Seven-time champion Hamilton finished second, while the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finished third and fourth respectively.
Norris, who had firmly reduced Verstappen’s lead in the second half of the season, started from sixth on the grid, just behind his rival.
It was far from an easy weekend for Verstappen. Red Bull made a mistake adjusting its rear wing and data showed his vehicle was running slower on the straight than Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. While Russell took pole, Verstappen was able to get out of the car to start in fifth place. He only needed to score three more points than Norris to win the world championship 2024. Norris finished sixth.
Mercedes were clearly faster. Russell won the race. It was his second win of the season. Hamilton finished right behind him while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took the podium in third.
Verstappen equaled Sebastian Vettel, Juan Manuel Fangio and Hamilton with four consecutive titles. Michael Schumacher won five in a row from 2000 to 2004.
Schumacher and Hamilton each have the most world titles with seven total. Fangio has five and Verstappen is equal with Vettel and Alain Prost with four.
