George Russell’s win in Las Vegas smashed a Formula One record which had stood for 43 years. The British drivers second win of the season meant that seven drivers had multiple race wins this season, breaking the record set in 1983.

Max Verstappen crowned world champion in Sin City has eight wins across the year, while Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris have three victories. Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri each have two Grand Prix wins each.

During a hectic round of media sessions post the chequered flag in Vegas, Max claimed he would have won the title even had he been driving a Ferrari or a McLaren instead of his RB20. The world champion driver had claimed five wins over the first seven Grand Prix weekends before trouble hit the Red Bull camp.

 

 

 

Norris maiden F1 win in Miami

Round six in Miami saw Norris close the gap on his rival for the first time this year, the gap post the race in the shadow of the Dolphins stadium stood at 53. Another three wins over the next six rounds saw Verstappen build his lead over the McLaren driver to 85 points come the end of the British Grand Prix.

Two further wins from Norris combined with a run of ten consecutive weekends with a drought of victories meant come the end of the Mexico City Grand Prix the gap had been reduced to just 47. Yet during that time McLaren failed to issue team orders which would have pout Norris ten points closer to Verstappen.

With Norris on pole in a rain soaked Brazil and Verstappen starting from P17, hopes were high of a big points swing in Lando’s favour before the final triple header of races. Yet a stunning drive in monsoon conditions saw Max match a nineteen year old record set by Kimi in Japan 2005, claiming victory whilst starting fourth from the back.

The drive of the century as it was billed, in effect ended Norris’ title charge which was confirmed with Max finishing a lowly fifth in the race along the Strip – but crucially ahead of his title rival.

Report: Ferrari shocking strategy calls return in Vegas

 

 

 

Verstappen claims he would have won in a McLaren

Whilst being congratulated by the Sky F1 team, Max went out of his way to emphasise this year’s title was not down to him having the best car. Driving a McLaren Verstappen said he would have won the title too this year: “Yes, even earlier, so [I would have been] further ahead,” he said. “[With the Ferrari], pretty much the same I think. The Mercedes, no. I think that would have been trickier.”

Zak Brown who had suggested previously Max was winning because he had the best car on the grid, came over to congratulate the world champion. The McLaren CEO was effusive with his praise for the Red Bull driver who took the opportunity to remind the American of his previous comments about him and his dominant car.

“You know, things like that only motivate me. When people are critical or think I can only win in the best car, I will prove them wrong,” said Verstappen. “If I don’t get [that credit] now, then I don’t know what I need to do.”

Lando Norris also praised the consistency of Verstappen throughout the year however when told of Max’s comments about winning in a McLaren or a Ferrari he was quick to refute the claim of the newly crowned world champion.

Mercedes cryptic race messages deny Hamilton the win

 

 

 

Norris refutes Max claim

When asked if Max could have won the championship driving his McLaren car, the Brit retorted: “No, definitely not,” reported The Telegraph. “I mean, no one ever in the history of Formula 1 has come back from the size of deficit I had. No one. Ever.

“And there have been much bigger swings of performance of cars in the past than there has been now.”

Despite the deficit growing until Silverstone, Norris came back well with a dominant victory in Zandvoort and Singapore, but the resurgence of Ferrari at their home race in Monza became problematic for Norris and McLaren. Yet Lando insists Max’s early season dominance in effect created an insurmountable lead. 

“The advantage they [Red Bull] had in the beginning of the season over everyone was way more than we’ve had,” Norris added.

Marko calls for Red Bull ‘sit down’ over Perez’s future

 

 

 

McLaren rear wing in the frame?

“I think if it was any other driver, well not any other driver, but if it wasn’t Max and Red Bull, I think the chances [of winning the title] would have been much higher.”

Lando was quick to dismiss rumours that the FIA’s position over their rear wing used last time in Baku had an effect on the performance of the MCL38. In Azerbaijan Oscar Piastri destroyed the field while supporting what was described as a mini DRS scoop.

The layout of the circuit in the shadow of the Ural Mountains is similar to Las Vegas with its super sized start/finish straight. But with the wing now outlawed and McLaren nowhere in Vegas a number of F1 pundits had put two and two together.

“No, everyone wants to say whatever they want, but they can all believe their own BS that they tell themselves,” he told Sky. “It made a very small amount of difference, a lot less than what everyone thinks.

“It gained us a lot less than what everyone thinks. It’s got nothing to do with that.”

Vettel returns

 

 

 

Norris diff settings improved tyre wear

It appears McLaren may have started the race not having optimised the power unit software as team boss Andreas Stella explained to assembled reporters. Changes to the differential settings helped Lando improve the tyre wear over the course of the race with his lap times almost matching that of the leaders on his final stint.

Oscar Piastri described the race as “very difficult” after finishing 51 seconds behind winner George Russell. The Australian was penalised by the race stewards for a false start procedure, though the TV replays available were inconclusive on the issue.

“We just struggled with the tyres so there’s definitely some things to look at,” he said. “I don’t think we hoped for a whole lot more than where we finished, but obviously the gap was a bit disappointing.”

Verstappen defends tyrannical “abuse”

 

 

 

Jos Verstappen explains his absence from Max’s title win

George Russell cruised to victory in the 2024 Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix. Mercedes had been quick all weekend, topping the timesheets in every session with George Russell claiming pole from Lando Norris.

A flawless drive from the Brit meant this year saw a historic moment in the sport as seven different drivers have won more than one race across the twenty two events.

Max Verstappen entered the weekend knowing if his rival in the title race failed to claim three more points than the world champion, the championship was his for the taking and as the chequered flag fell on the night race along the Strip it was Verstappen in just P5 who became the champion driver of the year… READ MORE