Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship with a composed fifth-place finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. While pole-sitter George Russell and teammate Lewis Hamilton secured a Mercedes one-two, Verstappen’s focus was solely on keeping title rival Lando Norris at bay.
The Dutchman maintained position at the start and methodically extended his lead over the McLaren driver, solidifying his place in F1 history. In the closing laps, Verstappen opted for a conservative approach, yielding to Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc as they advanced to claim podium spots.
At the front, Russell delivered a masterful drive in challenging, slippery conditions under the lights of the Las Vegas Strip. He skillfuly held off early pressure from Leclerc, who struggled with tire degradation after an aggressive start. Meanwhile, Hamilton surged from 10th on the grid to secure second place, marking a strong comeback for the seven-time world champion. The win was Mercedes’ first since July’s Belgian Grand Prix, highlighting the team’s resurgence in the latter stages of the season.
The race was not without drama, as Norris set the fastest lap to finish sixth, though he fell out of championship contention. Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg made a key move against Yuki Tsunoda, boosting his team’s constructors’ standing, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly retired with technical issues after a promising start. Sergio Perez grabbed the final point for Red Bull in 10th, adding to the team’s constructors’ tally. However, the spotlight belonged to Verstappen, who celebrated his monumental achievement alongside the Red Bull team, joining the ranks of F1 legends with four consecutive titles.
Image courtesy of @Max33Verstappen on X
