Max Verstappen is world champion again after finishing 5th in Las Vegas

Max Verstappen wins his fourth world title in a row in Las Vegas in the third-to-last race of the season. The race, however, is dominated by Mercedes: George Russell and Lewis Hamilton celebrate a double victory.

George Russell dominated the qualification from the previous day. The Brit controlled the race. He benefited from the fact that teammate Lewis Hamilton had to start the race from far back (10th on the grid). Mercedes celebrated its first double victory since the Brazilian Grand Prix more than two years ago.

Mercedes dominated in Las Vegas like in the best of times. They set the best time in every training session. And they ensured the novelty in Formula 1 that four different designers won at least four races.

George Russell and Mercedes had an excellent weekend in Las Vegas.Bild: keystone

Max Verstappen’s world title was no longer in danger. Lando Norris was constantly behind the Red Bull driver. Norris had no chance at all of making up points on Verstappen. Verstappen and Norris finished the race in exactly the position from which they started the race.

Before Verstappen, Juan Manuel Fangio won four titles in a row in a Mercedes (1954 to 1957), Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari (2000 to 2005), Sebastian Vettel in a Red Bull (2010 to 2013) and Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes (2017 to 2020).

The Sauber team also remained without a championship point in the third to last race. The Chinese Zhou Guanyu was temporarily in 9th place, but finished the race in 13th place, just over 10 seconds behind the points.

On the remaining two race weekends in Qatar (December 1st), where the last sprint of the year is also on the program, and Abu Dhabi (December 8th), the race will still be about winning the constructors’ championship. In this, McLaren-Mercedes remained ahead. (dab/sda)