Max Verstappen has officially secured his fourth Formula 1 World Championship, amidst a thrilling Las Vegas Grand Prix. While the championship focus was on Verstappen, it was George Russell who triumphed on the track, converting his pole position into an impressive race victory for Mercedes.
Verstappen Claims Title with Strategic Finish
In a calculated drive, Verstappen only needed to finish ahead of Lando Norris to clinch his fourth consecutive title. The Dutchman expertly managed his race, finishing fifth, while Norris followed in sixth, confirming Verstappen’s championship status. Verstappen initially ran in third but was overtaken by both Ferraris in the final ten laps.
Russell and Hamilton Deliver a Mercedes 1-2
Russell faced growing pressure from teammate Lewis Hamilton as the race unfolded. Hamilton displayed formidable skill as he climbed from tenth on the grid, overtaking the likes of Oscar Piastri and Yuki Tsunoda early on. A strategic choice to extend his first stint brought Hamilton into contention with the race leaders.
Hamilton’s challenge grew as he closed the gap to Verstappen and the Ferraris, moving past Norris along the way. Ferrari’s tactical misfortune inadvertently aided Hamilton; Carlos Sainz‘s late decision to abort entering the pit lane allowed Hamilton an advantageous undercut.
Key Moves in the Final Stages
Hamilton overtook Verstappen with ease on lap 31 of 50, narrowing the gap to Russell. As Russell completed his second pit stop, Hamilton set about decreasing the deficit, but tyre graining hindered his final push, stabilising the gap in Russell’s favour. Ultimately, Russell crossed the finish line with a 7.3-second lead over Hamilton, marking his second victory of the 2024 season.
Ferrari’s Strategy and Performance
Sainz secured a podium finish in third, just ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc. Despite an early surge into second, Leclerc was hampered by tyre degradation, losing ground to Sainz and Verstappen. However, the hard compound proved advantageous for Ferrari as both drivers reclaimed positions from Verstappen in the latter stages, with Sainz passing him on lap 41 and Leclerc following suit on lap 46.
Notable Performances and Team Outcomes
Norris managed to set the fastest lap with a late switch to soft tyres, maintaining enough gap to teammate Piastri despite the extra pit stop. Piastri finished seventh, followed by Nico Hulkenberg in eighth, who collected pivotal points for Haas. This helped Haas leapfrog Alpine in the constructors’ standings after Pierre Gasly retired due to suspected engine failure.
AlphaTauri’s Tsunoda clung on for ninth, holding off Sergio Perez, who captured the final point. Fernando Alonso completed the race in eleventh, unable to add to Aston Martin’s tally.
Implications for the Championship
As the season progresses, Red Bull Racing will aim to cement their standings with Verstappen’s championship already secured. Mercedes’ dominant 1-2 finish highlights their growing competitiveness, while Ferrari’s strategies show promising potential despite consistency issues. Meanwhile, Norris and McLaren will strategise for stronger finishes as Piastri continues to show promise.
