Max Verstappen wins fourth-straight world title at Las Vegas Grand Prix as George Russell triumphs in Sin City

Max Verstappen becomes world champion for the fourth time in a row after finishing fifth behind George Russell in the Grand Prix of Las Vegas.

The Dutchman’s title was the most deserved of his career and puts his name, 27 years old, as neon bright as the attractions of the Strip, where he would be transported in a Rolls Royce Phantom to celebrate in front of the Bellagio, with sparkling fountains.

Rightly so, because he is in a pantheon of motorsport immortals.

Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, with seven titles each, and Juan Manuel Fangio, with five, are ahead of him. But time is on his side and he will almost certainly leave Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel behind him, just like him in four.

A tearful Verstappen was ecstatic over the radio. “Oh my God,” he wailed. ‘What a season. Four times. Thanks to everyone. More difficult than last year. I thought it was impossible. But thanks to you… Thanks again.”

That evening, Verstappen finished ‘only’ fifth behind a Mercedes one-two and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, but it was enough to take the honors with Lando Norris, his only theoretical challenger, in sixth place.

Verstappen stands atop his Red Bull machine after winning his fourth world title

Max Verstappen’s Red Bull passes the Planet Hollywood Casino on the Las Vegas Strip

It means he clinch the championship without needing the two remaining rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

As for Russell’s composed performance, it was worthy of his third career win. His Mercedes was inexplicably fast, but he used the advantage to devastating effect.

More from Russell later, but first a retelling of Verstappen’s race, which was an emblem of his superman powers. He may be cast as a pantomime villain in Britain for his controversial win over Hamilton in Abu Dhabi in 2021, but there is no doubting his ability to get more out of his Red Bull than any other driver could. This was emphasized by Sergio Perez who finished 10th.

It is remarkable that Verstappen has achieved his feat while Red Bull is third in the constructors’ championship. It is rare for a driver to triumph if his team does not win the Constructors’ Championship. In recent times, only Hamilton, in 2008, and Verstappen himself, in 2021, have managed to achieve the small miracle of the man rising above the machine.

And that’s not all. Red Bull was torn by divisions this year. They are embroiled in controversy – the Christian Horner scandal. With the departure of design guru Adrian Newey, they have unraveled in recent months from a reliably winning phenomenon to a patchy bunch that has lost the upper hand.

Since Verstappen won in China on April 21, he no longer has the fastest car. McLaren took over in Miami on May 5. Yet Verstappen still achieved crucial victories that his car did not entitle him to.

The race itself was won by Mercedes’ George Russell – his third career Grand Prix victory

He held off an attack from Norris – an attack that would have had the upper hand with a stronger performer than the very fast Briton, Max or no Max.

As for the race itself, Russell reigned supreme from pole. He was away quickly and survived the only wheel-to-wheel threat at the end of the fourth lap, holding off Leclerc. A lesson for Norris in resistance.

Hamilton did very well from tenth on the grid – a poor qualifying from him – to finish second, passing three cars on track and the Ferraris in the pits.

Poor victorious Russell. A bad day to win a race.