F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Max Verstappen Secures 2024 World Drivers' Championship, Mercedes Dominates the Race

The 2024 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered an unforgettable spectacle under the glittering lights of Nevada, with Max Verstappen clinching the World Drivers' Championship in style. Despite securing his fourth consecutive title, Verstappen faced stiff competition on the night, as Mercedes showcased a dominant performance. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton claimed an emphatic one-two finish, reaffirming the team's resurgence in the latter half of the season. Lando Norris faced the challenge of outperforming Verstappen to prolong the championship race, but he fell short, finishing sixth. The high-octane event featured thrilling overtakes, strategic battles, and dramatic twists, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Verstappen’s title win highlights his consistency throughout the season. Notably, the results set the stage for an intense battle between the teams in the season’s remaining two races.

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Verstappen Joins the Legends

Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive Formula One World Drivers’ Championship during an action-packed Las Vegas Grand Prix, where George Russell triumphed for Mercedes.

Verstappen was well aware that finishing ahead of his closest rival, Lando Norris would be enough to clinch the title. Starting fifth on the grid, with Norris just behind in sixth, Verstappen gained the upper hand early and held his position. He crossed the line in fifth, while Norris finished sixth, making Verstappen’s championship lead unassailable with two races still left in the season. The Dutch driver now stands alongside Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, and Sebastian Vettel as one of the select racers in the sport's history to secure at least four Drivers' Championships, cementing his place among the sport's all-time greats.

After his intense title battle with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, Verstappen dominated the 2022 season and shattered records in 2023 by winning 19 of 22 races, claiming that year’s championship by nearly 300 points. The 2024 campaign seemed destined to follow suit, with Verstappen winning seven of the first 10 races. However, as Red Bull's dominance waned, competitors like McLaren began to close the gap. Although Verstappen managed only one win in the last 12 races, his consistent points haul throughout the season ensured that Norris could not catch him, sealing another historic milestone in his career. 

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Mercedes Exerts Dominance on the Track

Russell started the Grand Prix from pole position and, aside from a brief confrontation with Charles Leclerc early in the race, was in full command for the majority of the race. Russell's recent win at the Las Vegas GP marks his third career victory and second of the season, following his previous triumph in Austria.

Hamilton, who had a challenging qualifying session, made an impressive recovery, charging from 10th on the grid to finish in second, securing a one-two result for Mercedes. This podium marks his 202nd career finish in the top three, a record-extending achievement, and brings his total number of podiums across 36 tracks.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished in third, with his teammate Charles Leclerc just behind. The two exchanged positions several times and were also involved in numerous overtakes, including with Verstappen, in an action-packed race. In the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari has closed the gap to McLaren to a mere 24 points, while Red Bull trails by 53 points, leaving the championship still wide open with two races remaining in Qatar and the UAE.