Max Verstappen (Red Bull) did not tremble during the Las Vegas GP. The 27-year-old Dutchman won his 4th consecutive world title in his first opportunity by finishing 5th in a race won by George Russell (Mercedes). Vertsappen’s last rival, Lando Norris (McLaren) ranked 6th on the American track. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes/2nd) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari/3rd) complete the day’s podium.
Winner of 8 of the 22 races contested so far this season, Max Verstappen is the 5th driver in the history of the premier category to collect 4 world titles in a row. He joins Juan Manuel Fangio, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton in legend, with only Alain Prost added to the list of quadruple world champions.
Verstappen mastered his subject in Las Vegas, in a Grand Prix contested at night. Fifth on the grid, just ahead of Lando Norris, he got off to a good start to immediately stifle the Briton’s attempts. He even found himself 2nd after a few laps, but held on in the last third of the race.
A third success for Russell
The Mercedes dominated the debates in the 22nd of the 24 GPs in this Formula 1 season, signing their first double in more than two years (Brazil 2022). Starting from pole position, George Russell was more than 8 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer after 11 of the 50 laps, when the first tire changes were made.
The 26-year-old Briton picked up his third success in F1 after Brazil in 2022 and Austria last June. He was more than 7” ahead of his compatriot and teammate Lewis Hamilton, with the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finishing 3rd and 4th respectively. Still no points this season, however, for the Saubers of Zhou Guanyou (13th) and Valtteri Bottas (18th).
ats/btro
Swiss
