Max Verstappen captures 4th F1 word championship 2024 title after Russell triumphs in Las Vegas Grand Prix

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship with fifth place in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Actually, Verstappen can do anything he wants after finishing fifth on Saturday night in the Las Vegas Grand Prix to beat Lando Norris of McLaren for the title with two F1 races remaining this season.

The Red Bull driver is now a king of Las Vegas, a year after he arrived in Sin City extremely negative about the extravagant race on the famed Strip. He won and completely changed his tune last November as the Dutchman even sang “Viva Las Vegas” as he crossed the finish line.

Now he used the street circuit to become only the sixth driver in F1 history to win at least four titles. Verstappen needed only to finish ahead of Norris to win the title. He started fifth but was already up to second by the 10th lap and Norris never challenged.

He ended the race up 63 points over Norris with two events remaining this season — a position Verstappen said he never expected to be in even though he's the son of a former F1 driver. His father, Jos, was even once teammates with Michael Schumacher, one of the best in F1 history.

Despite being surrounded by greatness, Verstappen insisted he never expected his own career to be so successful.

The race was won, meanwhile, by George Russell who was followed by Lewis Hamilton in the first 1-2 sweep for the Mercedes drivers since 2022. Hamilton came from 10th on the grid — two weeks after a demoralizing race in Brazil — to capture his podium finish.

The duo crossed the finish line under a checkered flag waved by actor Sylvester Stallone.

Carlos Sainz Jr. finished third for Ferrari as the constructor championship remains a tight battle between leader McLaren and Ferrari. Charles Leclerc, his teammate, was fourth. Red Bull had won the title that pays roughly $150 million in prize money the last two seasons but has slipped to third in the standings.

That championship battle appears headed to next month's season finale in Abu Dhabi. McLaren has a 24-point lead