Max Verstappen has secured his fourth Formula 1 world championship, finishing ahead of Lando Norris in Las Vegas to put the title out of reach with races still left in the season.

 The Red Bull driver joins an elite group as only the sixth driver in Formula 1 history to win at least four titles, tying Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel while edging closer to the records of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton (seven each) and Juan Manuel Fangio (five). At 27, Verstappen is the second-youngest to achieve this feat, following Vettel, who also claimed all four of his championships with Red Bull.

This season presented Verstappen with a tougher challenge compared to his previous two title runs, largely due to the resurgence of McLaren. Norris and his team made significant strides with mid-season developments, at times boasting the fastest car on the grid.

Despite McLaren’s progress, Verstappen’s consistency, brilliance, and occasional missteps from Norris and his team ensured the championship battle never slipped from the Dutchman’s grasp. With a comfortable lead in the standings throughout, the outcome rarely seemed in doubt.

Verstappen’s latest triumph further solidified his place among Formula 1’s greats and underscores Red Bull’s dominance in the sport.