LAS VEGAS Under the brilliant lights of Sin City, Max Verstappen secured his fourth Formula 1 world championship on Saturday night, solidifying his place among the sport’s luminaries.
With two races and a “sprint” left in the 2024 season, the 27-year-old Red Bull driver only needed to finish ahead of his only championship challenger, McLaren’s Lando Norris, to remove him from contention and win the trophy. Norris came in sixth, and he came in fifth.
Verstappen joins a select group of drivers that includes Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost, and Juan Manuel Fangio as the sixth driver in Formula One history to win four world titles.
Man, oh God. Verstappen stated over team radio, still in his car, “What a season.” Four times! Many thanks… We made it through, however it has been a little harder than previous year. And we put our all into it.
The 50-lap race was won by Mercedes driver George Russell, who qualified in pole position, ahead of Mercedes teammate Hamilton in second place and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in third, with actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone waving the checkered flag.
A title-decider and a new degree of sparkle and splendor have been introduced to Las Vegas by the international sport. Some attendees spent tens of thousands of dollars on luxury trackside tickets in hospitality suites, while celebrities made cameos in the paddock.
Fast vehicles, racing, and Las Vegas are all things I adore. Just before the race began, Paris Hilton, a McLaren and Norris supporter, spoke to NBC News from the starting line. Thus, it’s the ideal mix of enjoyment.
The track’s most well-known feature is its 1.2-mile straight stretch along the well-known Las Vegas Boulevard, where the vehicles reached a high speed of roughly 221 mph as they sped by the Bellagio, Venetian, and other Strip casinos, offering spectators a series of thrilling overtakes.
The two quick Ferraris of Sainz and Charles Leclerc battled Verstappen and eventually passed him because he was cautious and made few chances. Mathematically, neither of the Mercedes or Ferrari drivers was vying for the championship.
Regardless of what transpired in Vegas, Norris informed reporters ahead of the race that winning the title was virtually impossible.
Nothing will change as a result. After qualifying late Friday, Norris declared that he was “pretty likely to win the championship.” Regardless of whether Max wins or loses, I’m here to race and give every race my all. That’s life.
There is still a chance to win the constructors championship, which distributes the F1 prize money. Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren are all behind them in the rankings.
Due in large part to the ongoing difficulties and poorer performance of its second driver, Sergio Perez, who has had a winless season, Red Bull is unlikely to replicate its 2022 and 2023 constructors championship victory this year.
A new American team in F1?
As a sign of confidence in the expanding American market, the Las Vegas Grand Prix highlighted three races in the US, including Miami and Austin, in the 2024 season, more than any other nation. In Vegas, it was the second race for the 10-year deal.
The event has benefited Las Vegas despite the road restrictions and the hardships it has caused for many residents. According to a survey by Clark County in Nevada, the race had an economic impact of around $1.5 billion. According to the estimate, 316,000 people attended the race last year.
Additionally, U.S. interest may soon increase further.
According to insiders who spoke to NBC News, Formula 1 is anticipated to add an eleventh team to the grid in 2026, most likely named Cadillac F1.
The expected move is connected to a previous effort by Andretti and Cadillac, which was supported by GM and approved by the FIA, the sport’s governing body, but turned down by F1’s business community. The adjustment coincides with Cadillac’s pledge to begin building its own power unit in 2028 and with Andretti’s organizational reforms, which have placed investor Daniel Towriss (instead of Michael Andretti) in the forefront of the bid. The Associated Press broke the story first.
A Formula 1 representative chose not to comment. After rejecting Andretti’s initial approach, Liberty Media, the sport’s commercial owner, informed investors in August that it was being investigated by the Department of Justice for possible antitrust violations.
If accepted, the ruling would elevate a well-known American team and automaker to the highest level of motorsport. It would take place the same year that Ford and Red Bull are scheduled to collaborate on building their power unit, resulting in a conflict between the two American automakers.
Despite all of his accomplishments, Verstappen has had a challenging season due to car issues, fierce competition, and seemingly endless drama off the track.
Verstappen has only won one of the previous 12 races, despite winning seven of the first ten. Verstappen’s pursuit of a fourth world title has been greatly aided by his early run of wins.
It followed Verstappen’s record-breaking 2023 season, in which he won 19 of 22 races. As McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes improved their cars and fought for victories, his Red Bull car’s dominance quickly tapered down in the early months of 2024.
The fact that other competing teams caught up to, if not overtook, Red Bull at roughly the same time also aided Verstappen’s effort. There have been seven race winners this season, including the six drivers from Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren. Others deducted points from Norris and thwarted his attempts to push the Dutchman in many of the instances where Verstappen faltered.
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