Verstappen secures fourth F1 title amid Las Vegas drama
Max Verstappen from Red Bull clinched his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship title following the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Dutch driver finished in fifth place, while George Russell from Mercedes won the race.
Max Verstappen, representing the Red Bull team, secured the Formula 1 World Championship for the fourth consecutive year. The decisive results were determined at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where the Dutchman concluded in fifth position. The race victory was snatched by George Russell from Mercedes.
The second place in Las Vegas was claimed by Lewis Hamilton, also from Mercedes, with Carlos Sainz Jr. from Ferrari taking third. Lando Norris from McLaren, the only driver who had a potential chance to contest Verstappen's lead, finished the race in sixth place, which was not sufficient to keep his championship hopes alive.
Verstappen commenced from the fifth position and briefly advanced to second place. However, after a pit stop, he was overtaken by Hamilton. The Dutchman chose not to contest his position ahead of Sainz and Charles Leclerc from Ferrari.
Verstappen joined an esteemed group of drivers who have secured at least four World Championship titles. Previously, this feat has been accomplished by notable figures such as Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio, Sebastian Vettel, and Alain Prost. Only a select few, including Verstappen, have achieved the championship four times in succession.
Verstappen made history as the youngest driver to achieve the fastest lap, reach a podium position, and win a Formula 1 race.
Constructors' competition
In the constructors' standings, McLaren leads with 608 points, but Ferrari and Red Bull still possess a chance to succeed. Two races remain in the season: the Qatar Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Prior to the race in Las Vegas, drivers expressed concerns about the smell of marijuana in the air, which is legal in the state of Nevada. "If they tested us for doping now, we'd all test positive. It would be chaos," Verstappen jokingly remarked, as cited by PAP.
Results of the Las Vegas Grand Prix: 1. George Russell (Mercedes), 2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 3. Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari), 4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 6. Lando Norris (McLaren).
