Max Verstappen has once again etched his name in Formula 1 history, securing his fourth consecutive World Championship title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Dutchman sealed his triumph in a challenging race, extending his dominance with two rounds of the season still to go.
The night in Las Vegas was a crucial one for McLaren’s Lando Norris, who needed to outscore Verstappen by three points to keep his slim title hopes alive. However, Verstappen’s steady performance saw him finish fifth, while Norris trailed in sixth. Despite claiming the fastest lap and an additional bonus point, Norris fell short, cementing Verstappen’s place as the 2024 champion.
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lando: “max deserved to win it, he drove a better season than i did, he deserved it more than anyone else. max just doesn’t have a weakness. when he’s got the best car he dominates and when he’s not got the best car he’s still just there always” pic.twitter.com/Ugqt7SADwJ
— ray (@ln4norris) November 24, 2024
Reflecting on the race, Norris had nothing but admiration for his rival. “Congrats to Max – I’m disappointed I’m out of it, but Max deserved to win it,” he remarked. Highlighting Verstappen’s impeccable consistency, Norris added, “Max just doesn’t have a weakness. When he’s got the best car, he dominates, and when he doesn’t, he’s always there to make life tough.”
A poor weekend for McLaren!
The weekend was far from ideal for McLaren, with both Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri grappling with a lack of pace. While Piastri finished behind Norris in seventh, the team’s struggles allowed Ferrari to close the gap in the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren’s lead over Ferrari now stands at 24 points, down from 36.
“It was damage limitation for us,” admitted Norris, emphasizing the importance of every point in the tight Constructors’ battle. “Ferrari is performing well, but I’m hoping this weekend is an anomaly. We’ll keep fighting – the fight’s very much alive.”
As the season heads into its final stages in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the battle for the Constructors’ Championship remains fiercely competitive. While Verstappen’s dominance has been unmatched, Norris and McLaren remain determined to end the year on a high, even as they acknowledge the brilliance of the reigning champion.