Max Verstappen was crowned F1 World Champion for the fourth time as the Dutchman finished above title rival Lando Norris at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver won his fourth straight title with two races to spare, as Norris can no longer catch Verstappen in the standings after he could only finish sixth.
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ANALYSIS: The five races which won Max Verstappen the 2024 F1 title
Verstappen, meanwhile, finished fifth behind the Mercedes pair of George Russell, who won from pole, and Lewis Hamilton. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finished third and second for Ferrari.
The 27-year-old has eight race wins this season, including a dominant run at the start of the year, but Norris closed the gap over the second half of the campaign. However, Verstappen delivered a crucial win in Brazil last week and produced another stellar drive in Las Vegas to retain the world title.
F1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX – LATEST UPDATES
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Max Verstappen wins F1 world title for fourth time in a row
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Verstappen finishes above Lando Norris to claim title again
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George Russell wins in Vegas as Lewis Hamilton completes Mercedes one-two
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READ: Charles Leclerc vented his fury with his Ferrari team after the race
Max Verstappen wins 2024 F1 title in Las Vegas to join elite list of drivers
08:08 , Jamie Braidwood
Max Verstappen has claimed the 2024 F1 drivers’ title after finishing above closest challenger Lando Norris at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver, who started one spot ahead of Norris in fifth, finished the 50-lap race in the same position, while the McLaren driver came home in sixth.
It means Verstappen cannot be caught with 60 points left on the table at the remaining two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen joins Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel in winning four Formula 1 world championships, with only Juan Manuel Fangio (five), Lewis Hamilton (seven) and Michael Schumacher (seven) ahead of the Dutchman now.
The 27-year-old also becomes only the fifth man to win four championships in a row. Only one driver, Schumacher, has won five on the spin.
Max Verstappen wins 2024 F1 title in Las Vegas to join elite list of drivers
Drivers Standings after Vegas GP:
19:00 , Kieran Jackson
Lando Norris’ battle is now for second place!
1. Max Verstappen – 403 points
2. Lando Norris – 340 points
3. Charles Leclerc – 319 points
4. Oscar Piastri – 268 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 259 points
6. George Russell – 217 points
7. Lewis Hamilton – 208 points
8. Sergio Perez – 152 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 62 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg – 35 points
11. Yuki Tsunoda – 30 points
12. Pierre Gasly – 26 points
13. Lance Stroll – 24 points
14. Esteban Ocon – 23 points
15. Kevin Magnussen – 14 points
16. Alex Albon – 12 points
17. Daniel Ricciardo – 12 points
18. Ollie Bearman – 7 points
19. Franco Colapinto – 5 points
20. Liam Lawson – 4 points
21. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
22. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
23. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
The five races which won Max Verstappen – and lost Lando Norris – the 2024 F1 title
18:00 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen is the world champion once again, claiming the 2024 F1 drivers’ title under the bright lights of Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Verstappen’s fifth-place finish, a spot ahead of closest challenger Lando Norris, means the Dutchman has an unassailable lead with two rounds to go.
For many weeks, it seemed that Norris was set to launch a stirring title comeback but agonisingly for the Brit and his McLaren team, it never fully materialised.
So where did Verstappen build up his advantage? What races will Norris want back?
Now, The Independent looks at five key races in 2024 which led Verstappen to the title:
Full piece below:
The five races which won Max Verstappen – and lost Lando Norris – the 2024 F1 title
F1 in talks over 11th team for 2026 season after Andretti rejection
17:00 , Kieran Jackson
Formula One is reportedly in talks with General Motors about an 11th team joining the grid in 2026.
F1 rejected Andretti’s bid in partnership with GM earlier this year, but did say a new offer for 2028 would be considered.
Yet Sky Sports News understands that, with former boss Michael Andretti out of the picture, a GM entry led by businessman Dan Towriss – the majority shareholder of Andretti Global – is being considered for an entry into the sport as early as 2026.
F1 in talks over 11th team for 2026 season after Andretti rejection
Max Verstappen responds to speculation over his long-term Red Bull future
14:56 , Kieran Jackson
Verstappen has a contract until the end of 2028 but has been linked with a move to Mercedes. He has also often questioned his own future in F1.
“For me, I am just very proud to be part of the team,” he said after his title triumph.
“We’re celebrating our fourth world title together. It’s definitely not on my mind. Nothing else is on my mind”
Max Verstappen celebrates his fourth world title (Matt York/AP) (AP)
F1 World Championship list!
14:10 , Kieran Jackson
Quite the company Max Verstappen is sitting in now. He joins Sebastian Vettel in winning his first four titles in a row.
Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton – 7
Juan Manuel Fangio – 5
Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen – 4
Max Verstappen reacts to title win
13:30 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen admitted he was “relieved” to seal the 2024 F1 world title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Verstappen finished the race in fifth, one spot ahead of closest contender Lando Norris, to claim the 2024 drivers’ title with two races left.
It makes Verstappen the fifth man to win four titles in a row and the second Red Bull driver after Sebastian Vettel.
“It’s been a long season,” he said in Las Vegas. “We started off amazing, cruising, then we had a tough run. We kept it together, working on improvements. Incredibly proud.
(AP)
Exclusive: Lewis Hamilton will have ‘weird’ statistic on his mind ahead of Ferrari move, says Sky F1 expert
12:54 , Kieran Jackson
Karun Chandhok believes Lewis Hamilton will have his poor qualifying record “weighing on his mind” ahead of his blockbuster move to Ferrari next year.
Seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton will leave Mercedes at the end of the season after 12 years to join the Scuderia in 2025.
Despite winning two races this year – at Silverstone and Spa – Hamilton is on track to record his lowest-ever championship position. He is seventh in the drivers’ standings ahead of this weekend’s race in Las Vegas.
Full piece below:
Hamilton will have ‘weird’ statistic on his mind ahead of Ferrari, says F1 expert
TOP-10 IN LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX
10:55 , Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell (1:22:05:969)
2. Lewis Hamilton (+7.313 secs)
3. Carlos Sainz (+11.906)
4. Charles Leclerc (+14.283)
5. Max Verstappen (+16.582)
6. Lando Norris (+43.385)
7. Oscar Piastri (+51.365)
8. Nico Hulkenberg (+59.808)
9. Yuki Tsunoda (+62.808)
10. Sergio Perez (+63.114)
Charles Leclerc fumes in expletive-laden team radio rant after Ferrari issue in Las Vegas
09:25 , Kieran Jackson
Charles Leclerc did not hold back after the Las Vegas Grand Prix as he claimed over team radio: “Being nice f**** me over all the time.”
The Monegasque driver, who started fourth on the grid, had a tremendous start and was second after the first lap.
Leclerc came close to overtaking George Russell for the lead but then dropped back to fourth after an issue with his car.
Full transcript below:
Charles Leclerc fumes in expletive-laden rant after mystery Ferrari issue
Drivers Standings after Vegas GP:
09:05 , Kieran Jackson
Lando Norris’ battle is now for second place!
1. Max Verstappen – 403 points
2. Lando Norris – 340 points
3. Charles Leclerc – 319 points
4. Oscar Piastri – 268 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 259 points
6. George Russell – 217 points
7. Lewis Hamilton – 208 points
8. Sergio Perez – 152 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 62 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg – 35 points
11. Yuki Tsunoda – 30 points
12. Pierre Gasly – 26 points
13. Lance Stroll – 24 points
14. Esteban Ocon – 23 points
15. Kevin Magnussen – 14 points
16. Alex Albon – 12 points
17. Daniel Ricciardo – 12 points
18. Ollie Bearman – 7 points
19. Franco Colapinto – 5 points
20. Liam Lawson – 4 points
21. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
22. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
23. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
F1 CEO’s message to title winner Max Verstappen
08:52 , Jamie Braidwood
F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, with a message to Max Verstappen.
“I want to congratulate Max on an incredible season and his fourth world title. He is a true great of this sport and has so much more to look forward to in his impressive career. This season has been thrilling and 2025 looks set to be even closer. Congratulations Max and congratulations to all the team at Red Bull.”
(Getty Images)
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Comeback weekend for Mercedes
08:38 , Jamie Braidwood
With victory in Las Vegas, George Russell claimed his third win in F1 after Brazil ‘22 and Austria ‘24.
With a 1-2, Mercedes becomes the second team (behind Ferrari) to score 60 1-2 finishes in F1.
It’s the team’s best result fo the season.
(Getty Images)
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Max Verstappen’s dominant run
08:02 , Jamie Braidwood
Max Verstappen took the lead of the Drivers’ Championship at the Spanish Grand Prix in May 2022. He’s held it ever since. It’s the longest run at the top of the standings in F1 history.
(Getty Images)
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Max Verstappen on 2025
07:58 , Jamie Braidwood
Is five in a row possible in 2025, given the improvements made by Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari? Here’s what the champion thinks.
“If you look at it, it’s going to be a proper battle between a lot of cars. I’m hungry. Of course I’m going to enjoy this. There are two more races and we take a break, then we go again next year.”
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Max Verstappen speaks
07:51 , Jamie Braidwood
Here’s the world champion with his first interview since winning a fourth title.
“It’s been a long season. We started off amazing. We were cruising. But then we had a tough run. As a team we kept it together, kept working on improvements. We are proud of everyone and what they have done for me. Standing here as a four-time world champion, I didn’t think it was possible. I’m very relieved but also very proud.
“When I was 17 I was definitely not thinking of four titles. I was happy to be there, dreaming of podiums and race wins, the things that are very difficult to achieve. We get on a run after a difficult few years. We hit the ground running with the new concepts.
“It was a very challenging season. I had to be calm. I still preferred last season, I enjoyed that a lot. This season taught me lessons. That still makes it a beautiful season. I think the fans got a bit spoilt last year with the wins. They had to wait a bit in the middle of the season.
“The team, we’ve been through a lot together. All these highs are very special. They are pushing flat out to give me the car to fight for the title. To do that four times in a row is very special.”
(Getty Images)
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Podium interviews
07:48 , Jamie Braidwood
Lewis Hamilton still has some regrets after only coming 10th in Q3 yesterday.
Hamilton: “First I’m going to say a big congrats to Max Verstappen, winning the Championship with races to go. If I had done my job yesterday, it would have been a breeze today. I had fun coming from 10th. We don’t know why we were so fast. It’s the best it’s ever felt.”
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Podium interviews
07:43 , Jamie Braidwood
Jenson Button and Terry Crews will perform the interviews in front of the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas, as you do.
Here’s race winner George Russell. “I was planning on flying out in a couple of hours but there’s no way I’m on that plane now! It’s been a dream weekend. I don’t know how we’re so quick. To get a victory here, dominant win, one-two with Lewis, we couldn’t have picked a better weekend for it to happen. I was waiting for something to happen [in the race]! I’m so, so happy right now.”
F1 World Champions
07:42 , Jamie Braidwood
Quite the company Max Verstappen is sitting in now. He joins Sebastian Vettel in winning his first four titles in a row.
Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton – 7
Juan Manuel Fangio – 5
Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen – 4
Max Verstappen wins fourth world title in a row
07:41 , Jamie Braidwood
Count them!
(Getty Images)
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Max Verstappen wins F1 world title!
07:38 , Jamie Braidwood
Some amusing scenes here. The drivers on the top-three are being ferried from the finish line to the actual podium in Las Vegas. Lewis Hamilton joins George Russell and Carlos Sainz in the back of a Rolls-Royce , while Max Verstappen gets one to himself.
(Getty Images)
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Max Verstappen wins F1 world title!
07:34 , Jamie Braidwood
Max Verstappen finished fifth today but he joins the drivers in the winners’ circle, pumping his arms as he gets out his Red Bull before embracing his team.
Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Fernando Alonso are there to congratulate Verstappen, too, who holds up four fingers! Four in a row!
There will be four drivers allowed onto the podium, with Verstappen winning the title by finishing fifth today.
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Max Verstappen wins F1 world title!
07:33 , Jamie Braidwood
There is delight for Mercedes, meanwhile, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton enjoying the one-two.
“Viva Las Vegas!” Russell shouts on his team radio. Hamilton was driver of the day, coming from 10th to finish second on the podium.
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Max Verstappen wins F1 world title!
07:29 , Jamie Braidwood
Here’s Max Verstappen’s first words as world champion!
“Oh my god, what a season! Four times! Thank you guys, it was more difficult than last year but we pulled through. Thank you so much guys.”
“They said it wasn’t possible but thanks to you guys it is, so well done again,” the Dutchman adds.
(Getty Images)
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Max Verstappen wins F1 world title!
07:27 , Jamie Braidwood
A one-two for Mercededs with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton first and second.
But MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE F1 WORLD TITLE FOR A FOURTH TIME!
Relief and celebrations in the Red Bull garage! It’s been a difficult season but the Dutchman has been the star, and he has delivered again tonight.
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Max Verstappen closes on title (Lap 50/50)
07:25 , Jamie Braidwood
FINAL LAP! Norris came out ahead of Piastri in sixth. Max Verstappen is fifth, and that’s all that matters for the title!
History will be made on the streets of Vegas.
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: George Russell closes on win (Lap 48/50)
07:24 , Jamie Braidwood
This will be George Russell’s second win of the season, and a very impressive one out in front from pole.
This is all going to be about one man, though, when the chequered flag comes out. Sylvester Stallone will do the honours in Vegas.
Norris, meanwhile, has pitted for an attempt at fastest lap.
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Charles Leclerc passes Max Verstappen (Lap 46/50)
07:21 , Kieran Jackson
Leclerc finally gets the move done to take fourth!
But with Verstappen in fifth, it still stands that the Red Bull driver will claim the title with Norris in sixth!
At the front, Russell’s lead is now 5.6 seconds to Lewis Hamilton!
Top-10: Russell, Hamilton, Sainz, Leclerc, Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Tsunoda, Perez
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Carlos Sainz up to P3! (Lap 42/50)
07:13 , Kieran Jackson
Sainz makes the move on Verstappen down the back straight and the Red Bull doesn’t put up too much of a fight!
But Verstappen is fighting to keep fourth from Leclerc!
Sainz up to P3!
At the front, Hamilton cuts the gap to Russell to 5.7 seconds. He couldn’t, could he?!
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: Lewis Hamilton chasing down George Russell (Lap 38/50)
07:10 , Kieran Jackson
Could Lewis Hamilton somehow win this race?!
He has cut the gap to Russell to eight seconds.
Verstappen now has the Ferrari pairing of Sainz and Leclerc on his tail.
Top-10: Russell, Hamilton, Verstappen, Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Alonso
F1 Las Vegas GP LIVE: George Russell pits (Lap 33/50)
06:59 , Kieran Jackson
Lo and behold, Russell dives into the pits and comes out still in first, 11 seconds clear of Lewis Hamilton in second.
What a dream night this is turning into for Mercedes!
Max Verstappen is third, 15 seconds ahead of Lando Norris in seventh. So the title is looking good for the Red Bull driver too!
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
