RACE REPORT | F1 Las Vegas 2024

George Russell claimed victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes one-two finish with Lewis Hamilton. Max Verstappen sealed his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship with a composed fifth-place finish.

Max Verstappen won his fourth Formula 1 World Championship with a measured drive to secure fifth place at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Meanwhile, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton claimed a one-two finish under the city’s dazzling lights.

Verstappen entered the 50-lap race needing to keep Lando Norris behind to clinch the championship. He achieved this by defending his position into the first corner and steadily distancing himself from the McLaren driver. Running third after the second round of pit stops, Verstappen chose not to battle when the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc closed in during the final laps, allowing them to overtake as he crossed the line in fifth.

At the front, Russell displayed masterful driving in the tricky, low-grip conditions, fending off an aggressive Charles Leclerc in the opening laps. Leclerc’s push led to early tire degradation, allowing Russell to race without significant competition from then on.

Meanwhile, Hamilton delivered an impressive recovery drive after starting 10th on the grid. He fought his way through the field with strategic overtakes on rivals like Oscar Piastri and Yuki Tsunoda. Hamilton’s long first stint allowed him to undercut the Ferraris during the second round of pit stops, even overtaking Verstappen with ease on lap 31 to take second place.

Hamilton closed in on Russell late in the race but was unable to mount a serious challenge due to tire wear. This allowed Russell to secure his second victory of the season and Mercedes’ first win since the Belgian Grand Prix.

Behind them, Norris grabbed the fastest lap in the final moments but finished the race in sixth. His McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri took seventh, penalized for jumping the start.

Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg overtook Yuki Tsunoda late in the race, a result that could prove pivotal in the battle for sixth in the Constructors’ standings. Pierre Gasly, who started from the second row, suffered a technical issue and had to retire.

Sergio Perez salvaged a point for Red Bull with a 10th-place finish, narrowly beating Fernando Alonso. Kevin Magnussen, Zhou Guanyu, and Franco Colapinto rounded out the midfield, with Colapinto starting from the pit lane.

Further down, Lance Stroll, Liam Lawson, Esteban Ocon, and Valtteri Bottas completed the finishers, while Alex Albon became the race’s second retirement due to technical issues.

The spotlight, however, remained firmly on Verstappen. Celebrating with his Red Bull team in parc fermé, the Dutchman added his name to the list of F1 legends with a remarkable fourth consecutive title.

Race results: