Max Verstappen wins fourth straight Formula 1 world title after fifth-place finish in Las Vegas
Published 24/11/2024 at 09:38 GMT
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Max Verstappen finished fifth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Sunday morning, sealing his fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship. Verstappen joins a select group of icons: Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Juan Manuel Fangio with four consecutive championships. Only German legend Michael Schumacher, with five, has eclipsed that mark. George Russell won the Vegas race, his second of the year.
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Video credit: SNTV
Max Verstappen claimed his fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship after finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
George Russell secured victory in the race, the Mercedes driver taking his second win of the season while his British teammate Lewis Hamilton finished second.
But all eyes were on Verstappen.
Only Lando Norris could have stopped Verstappen sealing the title on Sunday, but the Brit ultimately finished behind the Dutchman.
After crossing the line, Red Bull driver Verstappen spoke over his radio in praise of his team.
He said: "What a season. It was a little more difficult than last season, but we pulled through. It has been a long season and we started amazing, almost like cruising, and then we had a tough run but we kept it together as a team, kept working on improvements and pulled it over the line.
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"To stand here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought possible, so standing here relieved in a way but also proud."
Verstappen had notched double-digit race wins in each of his first three championships, including a remarkable 19 in 2023, but has managed only eight this year despite winning seven of the first 10 Grands Prix.
Despite the difficult run over the summer, his victory in Sao Paulo in early November was enough to get him back on track, and today's result sealed another triumph.
Verstappen joined a historic group of F1 legends with his title win. Only Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher have managed four straight titles, while Schumacher is the only to eclipse that mark with his five consecutive wins from 2000-2004.
Red Bull Racing's Christian Horner spoke to Sky Sports after the conclusion of the race, celebrating his driver's achievement.
He said: "It’s been a rollercoaster of a year, but Max has been truly outstanding. Max got off to a flying start. We had a difficult summer but he has just been outstanding. I think it’s been his best and hardest world championship, he’s delivered on days when the car wasn’t quite there."
Horner also praised the work behind the scenes at Red Bull Racing.
"This one has been hard won," he said. "All credit to the men and women in Milton Keynes. The others have pushed us really hard this year. Max joins an elite group of champions now, it puts him in amongst the all-time greats."
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