Max Verstappen is relieved to have clinched a fourth Formula 1 world championship title after finishing ahead of Land Norris in Saturday night’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, Afrosport reports.
The Red Bull Racing driver crossed the chequered flag in fifth ahead of title rival Norris who took home the fastest lap of the race to extend McLaren’s control of the constructors’ championship.
George Russell claimed the race victory for second his of the season and Mercedes’ fourth ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, who started from 10th on the grid and won the driver of the day award.
The night however belonged to Verstappen who fell off in form after a dominant start to the season and now becomes just the sixth driver in F1 history to win the world championship four times.
He is also the second driver after Sebastian Vettel to win their first four titles in a row.
“It’s been a long season, and of course, we started off amazing – it was almost like cruising, but then we had a tough run,” Verstappen said after the race per Autosport.
“But as a team, you know, we kept it together. We kept working on improvements, and we pulled it over the line. I’m incredibly proud of everyone, what they have done for me.
“To stand here as a four-time world champion is something that I never thought was possible. So, yeah, at the moment just feeling relieved in a way, but also very proud.
“It was a very challenging season. I think also as a person, at times, it’s very challenging and I had to be calm.
“I think in a way, I still preferred last season; I enjoyed that a lot, but I think this season definitely has lessons that I’m very proud of. We handled it also as a team so, in a way, that makes it also very special and a beautiful season.”
MAX VERSTAPPEN IS THE 2024 F1 WORLD CHAMPION! 🏆
A brilliant fourth title in-a-row! Incredible!!!#F1 #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/kiBpPmV86H
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 24, 2024
Outgoing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz completed the podium ahead of Charles Leclerc while Oscar Piastri was seventh in the other McLaren.
Nico Hulkenberg, Yuki Tsunoda and the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez completed the top 10.
The F1 paddock will head to Qatar next weekend before ending the season at Abu Dhabi in a fortnight.
