Verstappen wins F1 title while Russell wins the Las Vegas GP

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 24 (Xinhua): Red Bull’s Max Verstappen sealed the 2024 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship with a fifth-place finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday as Mercedes’ George Russell took a dominant victory.

From pole position, Russell held off an early challenge from Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc to maintain his lead in the opening laps and drove a perfect race to score his second win of the 2024 season.

“I was planning to fly in a few hours, but I’m not going on that flight!” joked Russell, whose Mercedes team had been dominant all weekend.

“I’m going to enjoy this evening with my entire team. It has been a dream weekend. I don’t know how I got so fast, but I’m enjoying this ride.

“Vegas is just a crazy place. I can’t even describe this place. I was waiting for something to happen. The two races where I was on pole before were chaos.”

Verstappen dropped to fifth place after finishing second halfway through the race. Yet, with his only title rival, Lando Norris, not in contention for major points, the Dutchman seemed content to control his pace and claim his fourth consecutive World Championship title.

“It’s been a long season. Of course we started great, it was almost like cruising, but then we had a tough run,” said Verstappen, who won seven of the first 10 Grands Prix of 2024 but then went through a dozen races. winless run as Red Bull fell back in competitiveness.

“But as a team we kept it together, we kept working on improving and we crossed the line.

I am incredibly proud of everyone and what they have done for me.

“And to be here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought possible. So right now I feel relieved in a way, but also very proud.”

Behind Russell, Lewis Hamilton rose from tenth on the grid to finish second and make it a Mercedes 1-2, underlining the Silver Arrows’ dominance on the streets of Las Vegas.

Carlos Sainz completed the podium positions for Ferrari, while teammate Leclerc finished fourth.

Behind Verstappen, Norris took sixth place, ending his slim title hopes on a day when McLaren had no answer to the leaders.

Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri finished seventh, while Nico Hulkenberg took a strong eighth for Haas, ahead of RB’s Yuki Tsunoda and Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez who completed the top ten.

Verstappen’s points total now stands at an unassailable 403 points. Norris remains second with 340 points and Leclerc is third with 319 points.

Although the Drivers’ Championship has been sealed, the Constructors’ Championship remains very much alive, with McLaren still leading the way with 608 points. Ferrari is second on 584, Red Bull third on 555 points.

Two rounds remain of the 2024 F1 season, the first of which is the Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail Circuit on December 1.