Max Verstappen has clinched his fourth consecutive Formula 1 world championship, becoming the sixth driver in F1 history to do so.
The Red Bull driver secured his fourth world championship in today’s Las Vegas Grand Prix where he finished fifth.Verstappen claimed his first world championship in 2021, the last season before F1 introduced its current ‘ground effect’ technical regulations. He has been undefeated in the championship since then.
His achievement makes him the sixth F1 driver to achieve at least four world championship victories. Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton are the others. Verstappen is the second-youngest driver on the list to win his fourth title, after Vettel.
Verstappen’s fourth world championship comes after a season of two halves for the Red Bull driver. He began his title defence strongly with seven victories from the first 10 grands prix. However, Red Bull were caught by their rivals and overtaken in the constructors’ championship by both McLaren and Ferrari. Verstappen endured a win-less spell which ended at the Brazilian Grand Prix at the start of November.
That Interlagos victory left nearest rival Lando Norris with only an outside chance of catching Verstappen before the end of the season. Verstappen ended that in Las Vegas, where he came home one place ahead of his rival, taking a 63-point champion lead with 60 points available over the remaining two rounds.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner raved about his driver’s performance, declaring Verstappen had “once again elevated himself to another level of exceptionalism.”
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“He’s won more than double the races of any other driver, mounting a formidable campaign and at times having to overcome insurmountable margins,” said Horner. “On the days when we didn’t deliver a win or when he had everything thrown at him, he has still delivered points. He has been extraordinary.”
List of Formula 1 drivers’ champions as of 2024
| Rank | Driver | Championships | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Schumacher | 7 | 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | 7 | 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| 3 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 5 | 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957 |
| 4 | Alain Prost | 4 | 1985, 1986, 1989, 1993 |
| 4 | Sebastian Vettel | 4 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | 4 | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 7 | Jack Brabham | 3 | 1959, 1960, 1966 |
| 7 | Jackie Stewart | 3 | 1969, 1971, 1973 |
| 7 | Niki Lauda | 3 | 1975, 1977, 1984 |
| 7 | Nelson Piquet | 3 | 1981, 1983, 1987 |
| 7 | Ayrton Senna | 3 | 1988, 1990, 1991 |
| 12 | Alberto Ascari | 2 | 1952, 1953 |
| 12 | Jim Clark | 2 | 1963, 1965 |
| 12 | Graham Hill | 2 | 1962, 1968 |
| 12 | Emerson Fittipaldi | 2 | 1972, 1974 |
| 12 | Mika Hakkinen | 2 | 1998, 1999 |
| 12 | Fernando Alonso | 2 | 2005, 2006 |
| 18 | Giuseppe Farina | 1 | 1950 |
| 18 | Mike Hawthorn | 1 | 1958 |
| 18 | Phil Hill | 1 | 1961 |
| 18 | John Surtees | 1 | 1964 |
| 18 | Denny Hulme | 1 | 1967 |
| 18 | Jochen Rindt | 1 | 1970 |
| 18 | James Hunt | 1 | 1976 |
| 18 | Mario Andretti | 1 | 1978 |
| 18 | Jody Scheckter | 1 | 1979 |
| 18 | Alan Jones | 1 | 1980 |
| 18 | Keke Rosberg | 1 | 1982 |
| 18 | Nigel Mansell | 1 | 1992 |
| 18 | Damon Hill | 1 | 1996 |
| 18 | Jacques Villeneuve | 1 | 1997 |
| 18 | Kimi Raikkonen | 1 | 2007 |
| 18 | Jenson Button | 1 | 2009 |
| 18 | Nico Rosberg | 1 | 2016 |
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Armchair Expert (@armchairexpert)
24th November 2024, 7:32
Simply, simply lovely! Max got this title driving 2nd, 3rd or even 4th quickest car this year, embarassing Norris in the process, who had absolutely dominant machine since Miami. But at the end of the day it’s the talent which matters the most and talent that Max Verstappen has is unmatched in the history of Formula 1.
Riccard
24th November 2024, 8:16
Richly deserved
2023 was a walkover, but in 2022 the Ferrari started the year faster; in 2021 the Mercedes was quicker; and for 2024 he has been racing faster cars most of the year and clearly maximised his points better than anyone.
It is good to see talent rewarded, and he deserves the win.
Hopefully next year the cars are close again and we can see another title battle.
Lando
24th November 2024, 9:04
Well done Max. You deserve this. You are the best and always hungry. Enjoy!!
Illusive (@illusive)
24th November 2024, 9:41
What an absolute legendary drive this season. Under pressure in a slower car. He has earned every accolades he deserves.
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
24th November 2024, 10:05
I think having the fastest car by far in the first 6 races made all the difference. Red Bull on balance probably had the fastest package this year. And we’re often second fastest at most other tracks.
notagrumpyfan
24th November 2024, 12:47
Probably not, as he also scored the most points in races 7-22. :P
MPH (@mhaynes652)
24th November 2024, 13:11
I cannot believe that we are still recognizing Max’s ‘first title’ after the Masi fiasco. He clearly earned the ‘22-‘24, and congrats are in order for the 3 he did win.
Manto
24th November 2024, 14:08
Hamilton would have won the title only thanks to luck in Imola, and the silverstone and hungary crashes
It’s the same as Norris this year, he could win the title but he wasn’t the driver deserving it
alex capps
24th November 2024, 14:27
I cannot believe the Hamilton bros are still crying about this. cope harder there have been far more suspect WDC that no one questions (I am looking at you senna, prost, and Shumi)
WimB
24th November 2024, 15:51
Richly deserved. Clearly the best driver this year, maximising the potential of his car 100% at all times, and his silent resistance to F1’s overbearing “no swearing” treatment of him was a refreshing burst of driver personality in a sometimes too smooth media performance by most actors in F1’s continual drama.
(Though – and by no means meant to take anything away from Max’s performance this year – I do think this year’s Red Bull is a better racing machine than it is often credited to be, certainly better than its points tally in the Constructors standings suggest. If his team mate were any better, then we would get a more fair impression of RB’s current car.)
MichaelN
24th November 2024, 16:51
Not a fan, but he was clearly the best driver on the grid. To maximize his dominant car in the early races, and then not just hold on, but even expand his lead ever so slightly over the summer (though I suppose it depends on which races you include) is what sets the champions apart from the rest.
I just don’t see Russell, Leclerc or Norris – never mind the other late 90s guys – do something similar. He’s clearly the best of his generation.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
24th November 2024, 17:05
Well done Max – the 3rd WDC only gets 3 asterisks! :-)
MacLeod (@macleod)
25th November 2024, 7:59
He get a golden one as fourth for the 2021