SMOKING: Earlier in the week, drivers complained about the smell of marijuana, with one saying they would all fail a drug test, while Verstappen joked he was high in the car
AFP, LAS VEGAS
Max Verstappen on Saturday night claimed a fourth consecutive F1 world title under the lights of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he was immediately hailed as “amongst the greats.”
The 27-year-old Dutchman came home in fifth place in a race won by George Russell of Mercedes as he became just the sixth man after Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio, Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost to claim four championships.
Driving with calm acumen in the gambling capital of the US, Verstappen finished just ahead of his friend and rival Lando Norris of McLaren to take the title.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen and his team douse each other with champagne after the Dutchman won the F1 championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix yesterday.
Photo: AP
His calm drive in defense of his crown overshadowed a perfect night for Russell who claimed his second win of the season.
Russell finished 7.313 seconds clear of seven-time champion Hamilton, who had started from 10th on the grid, with Carlos Sainz finishing third ahead of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, Verstappen and Norris, who was 43 seconds ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
Norris, who needed to outscore Verstappen by three points to keep his title hopes alive, took an extra point for fastest lap, but his challenge was over.
Mercedes AMG Petronas driver George Russell races during the Las Vegas Grand Prix in Nevada on Saturday.
Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / USA Today
Seven wins in the opening 10 races launched Verstappen to success, but he needed to overcome a mid-season run of 10 without a win before victory in a rain-hit race in Brazil set up his fourth title.
“It’s been a long season,” Verstappen said. “It started off amazingly, we were cruising and then we had a tough run, but we kept it together. At 17, I was just happy to be here and learn and never thought of this. To stand here now as a four-time champion is just incredible.”
Verstappen has been on top of the world championship in an unbroken run since the Spanish Grand Prix in 2022.
“It’s incredible, he’s done an amazing job,” Red Bull team chief Christian Horner said. “He’s been outstanding all year and we are just very proud of him. He’s won eight Grand Prix and the championship with two races to spare and you can’t ask for more than that.”
“He just gets in the car and he delivers, he’s a great human. It puts him amongst the greats,” he added.
Norris also congratulated Verstappen on his title win.
“He drove an incredible season and when you have the quickest car he dominated and when he didn’t he was still there and always on my heels. He made my life tough, we made his tough at times I’m sure, but he drove a better season,” he said.
Meanwhile, Russell described his lights-to-flag victory as a “dream weekend.”
“It’s going to be a big party. I was planning on flying in a couple of hours, but I’m definitely not getting on that flight and I am going to enjoy my night with all my team,” he said.
Leading up to the event, drivers had complained about the smell of marijuana during race preparations.
Marijuana is legal in Nevada and the odor can often be prevalent among those attending sporting events.
“Yes, there was a smell of weed,” Williams driver Franco Colapinto said. “If they dope [test] the drivers now, I think we’ll all test positive. When we all test positive, there will be a mess.”
Drivers had three practice sessions as well as qualifying beginning on Thursday leading up to Saturday night’s race.
Verstappen said the smell of marijuana was quite noticeable.
“I was quite high in the car,” he said jokingly. “It’s not ideal because you can also smell it while driving and it’s quite extreme.”
His Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, echoed his comments.
“I’m tired of it already,” Perez said. “The amount is incredible.”
Additional reporting by AP
