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The 2024 Formula 1 season reached a thrilling conclusion at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where George Russell secured an impressive victory, while Max Verstappen wrapped up his fourth consecutive World Championship.
Russell, who had dominated qualifying by taking pole position, maintained his lead throughout the race, showing great composure and pace. From the start, the Mercedes driver led the pack, with teammate Lewis Hamilton putting in a strong performance to finish second, ensuring a historic 12 finish for the team. Carlos Sainz rounded out the podium in third for Ferrari, after a gripping race filled with strategy and tense battles behind the leaders.
Russell’s Perfect Race
Russell’s victory was built on a flawless drive. Despite pressure from Hamilton in the latter stages, he held his nerve to cross the line 7.3 seconds ahead of his teammate. After a strong start, Russell was in control of the race, with Hamilton gradually cutting into his lead after the second round of pit stops. However, Russell’s advantage was enough to ensure he crossed the finish line with the win, giving Mercedes a 12 finish—its first since the 2020 season.
The Fight for the Title
While Russell and Hamilton were focused on the win, all eyes were on Verstappen, who needed to finish ahead of Lando Norris to secure his fourth straight Drivers’ Championship. Verstappen did exactly that, despite a challenging race. After an early battle with the Ferraris and Pierre Gasly, Verstappen moved up through the field to clinch fifth place. That was enough to seal the championship, as Norris finished sixth, leaving the Dutchman with an insurmountable lead in the points standings.
Key Moments in the Race
Carlos Sainz fought hard throughout the race, managing to grab third place after a strategic pit stop sequence. His position was a bit fortunate, however, as he narrowly avoided a penalty for an incident at the pit entry, where Ferrari had to call off his stop at the last minute.
Charles Leclerc had a difficult race after a strong start, eventually losing positions to both Sainz and Verstappen after struggling with tire wear. However, he was able to fend off Verstappen in the closing laps to finish in fifth, ahead of the McLaren duo of Norris and Piastri.
Hamilton, who had started further down the grid after a lessthanideal qualifying session, was the real mover of the race. He carved his way through the field, passing Verstappen and the Ferraris in a show of skill and determination, finishing second after a relentless chase of his teammate.
The Rest of the Grid
McLaren had a more anonymous race in terms of overall performance. Lando Norris crossed the line in sixth, while teammate Oscar Piastri finished just behind in seventh, although he was handed a fivesecond penalty for a grid box infringement at the start. Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso both had quiet races, with Perez finishing in tenth and Alonso in eleventh.
At the other end of the grid, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly were forced to retire, their races ending in disappointment.
Verstappen Clinches Title
Verstappen’s fifthplace finish, combined with Norris’ sixth, was enough to see the Dutchman clinch the 2024 Drivers’ Championship. With his 403 points, Verstappen now holds an unassailable lead in the standings, as he celebrates another title after a dominant season with Red Bull.
2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix – Final Results
1. George Russell (Mercedes) – 50 laps
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +7.313
3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +14.283
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +16.582
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) +11.906
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) +43.385
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +51.365
8. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) +59.808
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) +62.808
10. Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) +63.114
11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +69.195
12. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) +69.803
13. Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo) +74.085
14. Franco Colapinto (Williams) +75.172
15. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +84.102
16. Liam Lawson (AlphaTauri) +91.005
17. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) 1 lap down
18. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1 lap down
19. Alex Albon (Williams) DNF
20. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) DNF
2024 F1 Drivers' Championship Standings (After Las Vegas GP)
1. Max Verstappen – 403 points
2. Lando Norris – 340 points
3. Charles Leclerc – 319 points
4. Oscar Piastri – 268 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 259 points
6. George Russell – 217 points
7. Lewis Hamilton – 208 points
8. Sergio Perez – 152 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 62 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg – 35 points
11. Yuki Tsunoda – 30 points
12. Pierre Gasly – 26 points
13. Lance Stroll – 24 points
14. Esteban Ocon – 23 points
15. Kevin Magnussen – 14 points
16. Alexander Albon – 12 points
17. Daniel Ricciardo – 12 points
18. Oliver Bearman – 7 points
19. Franco Colapinto – 5 points
20. Liam Lawson – 4 points
21. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
22. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
23. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
With this victory, George Russell demonstrated his growing stature in the sport, while Max Verstappen’s championship victory solidified his dominance in F1. The 2024 season continues to be one for the history books, with Mercedes and Red Bull both showing strength across the grid.
