Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive Formula One World Drivers’ Championship at a thrilling Las Vegas Grand Prix, where George Russell claimed victory for Mercedes.
Verstappen entered the weekend with a clear path to the title: finish ahead of his closest rival, Lando Norris. The reigning champion secured an advantage in qualifying, starting from fifth, just ahead of Norris in sixth.
The two drivers were side-by-side on the opening lap, but Verstappen held his ground and maintained his position. He crossed the finish line in fifth, with Norris in sixth, officially sealing his fourth title with two races remaining in the season.
This victory places Verstappen alongside F1 legends like Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, and Sebastian Vettel, all of whom have won at least four World Drivers’ Championships. His consistent dominance further cements his place among the sport’s greatest drivers.
After crossing the finish line, Verstappen expressed his gratitude to his team over the radio: “What a season. Four times. Thank you, guys. Thank you to everyone. It was a bit more difficult than last year, but we pulled through, and we gave it all.” Following a dramatic 2021 season battle with Hamilton, Verstappen dominated in 2022, winning 19 of 22 races, and clinching the championship by an almost 300-point margin.
This season, despite a dominant start with seven wins from the first 10 races, Verstappen faced a tougher challenge. Red Bull’s pace waned, and McLaren’s resurgence put pressure on the championship. Verstappen won only one of the next 12 races but maintained enough points to keep Norris at bay throughout the season.
“It’s been a long season, and of course we started off amazing, almost cruising, but then we had a tough run,” Verstappen reflected. “But as a team, we kept it together and kept improving. I’m incredibly proud of everyone and what they’ve done for me. I think I still prefer last season, but this one taught me many lessons. We handled it as a team, and that makes this season very special.”
For Norris, it was a bittersweet moment. Despite mounting a strong challenge throughout the year, he ultimately couldn’t unseat Verstappen. “Congrats to Max. I’m disappointed I’m out of it, but Max deserved to win it,” said Norris. “He had a better season than I did, and he’s just unbeatable. When he has the best car, he dominates, and when he doesn’t, he’s still there, making life tough for everyone.”
Mercedes had a stellar race in Las Vegas, with Russell starting from pole position and controlling the race after an early skirmish with Charles Leclerc. The victory marked Russell’s third career win and second of the season, having previously won in Austria. “I was planning to fly out in a couple of hours, but I’m definitely not getting on that flight! I’m going to enjoy this evening with my team,” Russell laughed after the race.
Teammate Lewis Hamilton had a remarkable drive, recovering from 10th on the grid to finish second, securing a Mercedes one-two. This podium marked Hamilton’s 202nd career finish, extending his record and making him the first driver to achieve podiums at 36 different tracks.
Carlos Sainz of Ferrari secured third place, with teammate Charles Leclerc close behind. The two Ferraris swapped positions throughout the race and engaged in numerous overtakes, adding to the excitement.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari closed the gap to McLaren, now trailing by just 24 points, while Red Bull sits 53 points behind. The final two races in Qatar and the UAE promise to be critical as teams continue to battle for position.
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