Perfect fourth title

LIVE from 7 a.m.: Who will win the Las Vegas GP?

Max Verstappen has secured his fourth world championship title in a row.

(Bild: AFP/ AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Mark Thompson)

Mercedes driver George Russell has secured victory in the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas ahead of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. But the big jackpot in the gambling metropolis went to Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. The Dutchman, who finished the race in fifth place, secured his fourth consecutive world championship title. His main rival Lando Norris was unable to find a way around him. 

Max Verstappen is Formula 1 World Champion for the fourth time in a row. A fifth place at the Las Vegas Grand Prix was enough for the Dutch Red Bull driver to secure the title early. His rival Lando Norris crossed the finish line in the McLaren directly behind Verstappen. Mercedes enjoyed a double victory in the floodlit spectacle in the gambling metropolis in Nevada on Saturday (local time), with George Russell triumphing ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen was overjoyed as he radioed in at the start of a long night of partying in the casino stronghold. "Oh my God, what a season. Four times. Thanks guys, it was a bit more difficult than last year," said the 27-year-old before heading to the interviews via limousine.

The podium was completed by Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who finished just ahead of his team-mate Charles Leclerc. It was Russell's second win of the season after Spielberg.

Verstappen in a select circle
With his fourth title win, Verstappen followed in the footsteps of Sebastian Vettel, who achieved this feat with the Austrian-British racing team from 2010 to 2013. Only six drivers have ever won four or more world championships in motorsport's premier class, including Verstappen and Vettel, Alain Prost (4), Juan Manuel Fangio (5) and the two record champions Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton (7 each).

George Russell took victory on the day

(Bild: AFP/APA/Frederic J. Brown)

In the remaining two race weekends in Qatar (December 1), where the last sprint of the year is also on the program, and Abu Dhabi (December 8), it is now all about winning the constructors' championship. Ferrari caught up in Las Vegas, with the Scuderia now 24 points behind McLaren. Red Bull Racing is already 53 points behind.

Bad luck for Gasly
In cold temperatures on the dirty street circuit in the Nevada desert, the starting position was clear: Verstappen had to finish ahead of Norris to be crowned world champion. The two world championship rivals started the race together on the third row of the grid and met at least briefly in the first corner, but Verstappen defended his fifth place without any problems. Russell retained his lead at the front, behind him Leclerc passed Sainz and Alpine driver Pierre Gasly, who had sensationally secured third place in qualifying.

Pierre Gasly

(Bild: AFP/APA/JOHN THYS)

In front of international celebrities, Russell fended off a Leclerc attack a little later. Then the tire poker began. After ten of 50 laps, the Ferrari drivers struggled with the severe degradation of their medium tires and, like Norris, had to pit early. The trio lost a lot of time, Verstappen initially coped much better and found himself in second place after the first series of pit stops. Gasly, on the other hand, had to park his car in the pits with engine damage, but prevented a safety car.

Norris has no answer
At the halfway point of the race, Russell had a commanding lead of ten seconds over Verstappen. However, the defending champion was four positions and also more than ten seconds ahead of Norris. Once again, Ferrari provided a curiosity: Sainz had to abort his planned second stop shortly before entering the pits because the Ferrari crew was not yet ready. "Wake up, guys!" said the Spaniard angrily on the radio.

Even after the second series of pit stops, there did not appear to be much excitement in the world championship race. "Don't lose sight of our main goal," Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase radioed to his protégé, referring to unnecessary duels with other drivers. However, he was still supposed to leave the onrushing Ferraris behind him, Lambiase confirmed after Verstappen asked. But that didn't work: Sainz and, a little later, Leclerc overtook the Red Bull star in the final phase with little resistance.

Lando Norris found no means of overtaking Max Verstappen.

(Bild: AFP/APA/Frederic J. Brown)

Norris still had a safe gap of ten seconds behind him. At the front, Hamilton benefited from his speedy Mercedes, with the 39-year-old only having Russell in front of him after a chase from 10th on the grid and closing the gap to his compatriot at times. However, there was no longer a duel on the track.