Max Verstappen has become Formula 1 world champion for the fourth time after clinching the 2024 title with a fifth-placed finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Verstappen, 27, is the sixth driver in the sport’s history to win at least four world titles.
Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton have each won a record seven, with 1950s Argentine legend Juan-Manuel Fangio on five ahead of Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel and now Verstappen on four.
Having won every Drivers’ Championship since claiming his first in the controversial end to the 2021 season, Verstappen now joins Hamilton, Fangio and Vettel in winning four titles consecutively.
Only Schumacher has achieved a run of five.
Who has won the most F1 titles?
| Driver | Titles won |
| 1) Michael Schumacher | 7 |
| 1) Lewis Hamilton | 7 |
| 3) Juan-Manuel Fangio | 5 |
| 4) Alain Prost | 4 |
| 4) Sebastian Vettel | 4 |
| 4) Max Verstappen | 4 |
‘I never thought it was possible’ – Verstappen on joining F1’s exclusive quadruple club
On the back of the most-dominant season in history in 2023 when he won a record 19 races out of 22, Verstappen had seemed set to walk away with the championship again after claiming seven of this year’s first 10 wins.
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McLaren driver Lando Norris congratulates Max Verstappen for winning his fourth world title, and reflects on their battles throughout the year.
But an unexpected Red Bull slump in form, combined with McLaren emerging as the grid’s most consistent front-runner and Ferrari’s own step forward since the summer break, had seen Lando Norris mount a late-season challenge.
“It’s been a long season. Of course, we started off amazing, it was almost like cruising but then we had a tough run,” said Verstappen after Sunday’s race.
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Max Verstappen reflected on his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship win and reveals more on his future with Red Bull.
“But as a team we kept it together, we kept working on improvement and we pulled over the line.
“I’m incredibly proud of everyone, what they have done for me.
“And to stand here as a four-time world champion is of course something that I never thought was possible. So, at the moment just feeling relieved, in a way, but also very proud.”
Verstappen’s four title-winning seasons
| Seasons | 2021-2024* |
| Race starts | 88 |
| Wins | 52 |
| Win % | 59% |
| Podiums | 70 |
| Pole positions | 37 |
| DNFs | 6 |
| *two races left in 2024 |
But while Red Bull lost the leadership of the Constructors’ Championship and slipped to third amid sustained struggles for Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s ability to keep scoring strong points finishes meant his advantage reduced at more gradual rate from a season-high of lead of 84 points after July’s British Grand Prix.
Norris had got it down to 44 points winning the Sprint at the Sao Paulo GP earlier this month but the title race decisively turned back in Verstappen’s favour a day later as the Dutchman produced a sublime drive in the rain-hit Grand Prix to win from 17th on the grid while his McLaren rival faltered to sixth from pole.
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Martin Brundle takes a closer look at the brilliance of Max Verstappen ahead of the Las Vegas GP in which the Red Bull driver became a four-time world champion.
Verstappen’s first full-race win in five months re-established a commanding lead of 62 points and meant he would win the title in Las Vegas by finishing ahead of Norris, which he achieved on Sunday morning by taking fifth in the race – one place ahead of his McLaren rival, who struggled for pace.
Las Vegas GP result: Top 10
1) George Russell, Mercedes
2) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
6) Lando Norris, McLaren
7) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
8) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
9) Yuki Tsunoda, RB
10) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
Although Verstappen moved up to second behind ultimate race winner George Russell in the early stages of the race, he was shuffled off the podium to fifth in the long second stint on hard tyres after being overtaken by Lewis Hamilton and then the Ferrari duo of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told Sky Sports News: “He’s been in a class of his own this year. He’s been absolutely outstanding.
“He’s won eight Grands Prix, more than double anyone else on the grid.
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Christian Horner praises Max Verstappen after the Red Bull driver is confirmed as F1 World Champion for the fourth time, with the team principal saying he can’t give the Dutchman enough credit.
“He had an incredible start. We had a tough summer but he never lost his focus.
“He kept overdelivering, kept getting the results and performances. He deserves this fourth world championship. It puts him among the elite of the sport.
“I can’t credit him enough for the way he’s handled himself this year, the way he’s worked with the engineer and team. He’s been outstanding.”
Formula 1’s season-ending triple-header continues next weekend with the Qatar Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream the final two F1 races and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
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