12 months ago, F1 (Formula 1) driver Max Verstappen was ready to toast his victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Accompanied by Sergio Pérez and Charles Leclerc in the back seat of a Rolls-Royce Phantom on the way to the Bellagio resort, Verstappen jokingly asked the driver if they could skip the interviews and go straight to the nightclub. He was enjoying the moment, having won the Formula 1 title in early October last year.
This year, Verstappen was back in the same car, but for a few minutes, he was completely alone. He did not win the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix over the weekend; he didn’t even make it to the podium. The top three — in order, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz — were squeezed into the back seat of another Rolls-Royce.
A second car had been reserved for Verstappen precisely for this situation: for him to win the Formula 1 championship on Saturday (23), but not be on the podium. Fifth place may not have been the preferred result to achieve such a defining moment in his career, but Verstappen didn’t care. It was enough to secure his fourth Formula 1 championship.
Verstappen’s euphoria came immediately over the radio after crossing the finish line. His race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, reminded him throughout the race to stay focused on the big picture — a subtle warning not to get involved in wheel-to-wheel disputes that could put his title at risk. All he had to do was finish ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris to secure the title.
This meant that even when Verstappen lost second place in the latter part of the race as his worn tires failed to give him the grip needed to keep Hamilton, Sainz or Leclerc at bay in the closing stages, he knew it would be enough. Norris struggled throughout the race and was powerless to prevent his title defeat from being confirmed when the checkered flag was waved on lap 50.
Upon crossing the finish line, Verstappen felt immediate relief. It was over. A difficult season in which he struggled with an underwhelming car would end with yet another crown.
Lambiase was the first to congratulate Verstappen over the radio, followed by team boss Christian Horner. “This is a phenomenal, phenomenal achievement,” Horner said. “You can be incredibly proud of yourself, just like we are. Amazing. Well done.”
Verstappen laughed. “My God, man, what a season,” he said. “Four times! Thank you, thank you, guys, thank you everyone. It was a little harder than last year, but we did it and we did our best. Thank you so much, guys.”
This year was very different from last year’s domination. But that didn’t make the coronation in Las Vegas any less special.
The idea of even winning a world championship always seemed distant for Verstappen, a Dutch and Belgian driver. To now be a four-time champion, with only three drivers — Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio — having more titles must have been beyond his wildest dreams.
And reaching that milestone in Las Vegas, of all places, made it all surreal.
The trip to the Bellagio, with the famous fountain serving as the backdrop for his first interview as a four-time champion, gave Verstappen a chance to soak up the sights and consider his journey, which began karting with his father years ago.
Lambiase eventually joined Verstappen in the back seat. In front of the fountains, he met with actor Terry Crews and Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, to answer some questions in front of the Formula 1 cameras. “To be here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought I would be possible,” said Verstappen. “I’m feeling relieved in a way, but also very proud.”
When Verstappen completed the journey back to the Formula 1 paddock, his Red Bull teammates were wearing T-shirts with “M4X” on the front. On the short walk from the interview space to the conference room, someone placed a can of Heineken in his hand. He has commented at least twice since crossing the line about how thirsty he was, a reference to his desire to celebrate. He emptied the contents of the can just before the cameras started recording, hiding it behind the sofa.
“I ran out of beer,” said Verstappen when asked how he would celebrate. “So, yeah, I don’t know. Maybe another one, and then maybe I’ll switch to something else.”
Verstappen also reflected on what Horner labeled his most impressive championship year to date. It was an assessment Verstappen agreed with, believing that for 70% of the year, Red Bull did not have the fastest car. “At one point it felt like we were a little lost,” he said. “But at least now it feels like everything is a little more normal.”
Las Vegas 2024 will forever be a significant race in Verstappen’s career, even if he doesn’t remember the result and performance very fondly. “When I look back on this season, probably in 20 years when I’m retired, Las Vegas 24 as a race won’t be in my top 10,” he said. “But it’s still very special to win here.”
A tougher test will certainly follow in 2025, given the performance of Red Bull’s rivals this season. Verstappen said he was “very excited to see what we can do next year” as he seeks his fifth consecutive title, something only Schumacher has achieved. “But for now, I’ll just enjoy the moment.”
