Verstappen Secures Fourth Straight Formula One Title

Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive Formula One championship during the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday night.

The 27-year-old Dutch driver finished fifth in a race where Mercedes’ George Russell took the top spot. With this milestone, Verstappen joins an elite group of drivers, including Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio, Sebastian Vettel, and Alain Prost, who have achieved four or more titles.

Verstappen’s closest challenger, McLaren’s Lando Norris, ended the race in sixth place. Expressing his excitement over the achievement, Verstappen told his Red Bull team over the radio, “What a season—four times! Thank you, guys. This year was tougher than the last, but we made it through. Thanks so much.”

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton secured second place, while Ferrari teammates Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium in third and fourth, respectively.

Norris, who had steadily narrowed Verstappen’s lead earlier in the season, started just behind the champion in sixth position but pitted early on Lap 10, dropping to 17th. Verstappen followed two laps later, switching his medium tires for hard ones, and rejoined in sixth.

After the pit stops, Russell maintained his lead, with Verstappen trailing, shielded by the Ferraris and Hamilton. At the midway point, Norris reported tire struggles to his team, dampening his chances under the Vegas lights.

Earlier, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Williams’ Alex Albon were the first to retire from the race. Meanwhile, Hamilton, starting 10th, methodically worked his way through the pack, overtaking the Ferraris and eventually Verstappen to claim second place.

By Lap 33, Russell held an 11-second lead over Hamilton. Although Verstappen eventually slipped to fifth behind both Ferrari drivers, his position was enough to secure the championship, marking another historic season for the Red Bull ace.