Max Verstappen has his sights set on the next world championship title. © APA/afp / MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL

Verstappen crowned world champion in Las Vegas

Max Verstappen can secure his fourth consecutive Formula 1 world championship title early in Las Vegas.

20 November 2024

From: apa

The 27-year-old Dutchman doesn't even need that many to draw level with Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost in terms of triumphs. Only the two record champions Michael Schumacher from Germany and the Briton Lewis Hamilton, who will be racing for Ferrari next year, with seven titles each, as well as the Argentinian racing icon Juan-Manuel Fangio (5) would then be ahead of Verstappen.

The Red Bull star won the Formula 1 comeback in Las Vegas a year ago. A win this year would make any calculations unnecessary. Before the Grand Prix, which is likely to become a big US show again, much to Verstappen's dismay, Verstappen is 62 points ahead of Briton Lando Norris of McLaren. If Verstappen has 60 more points after the Vegas showdown, he will be world champion.

Lando Norris can theoretically still challenge Verstappen for the title. © APA/afp / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA

Norris could mathematically equalize in the two remaining Grand Prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but the higher number of race wins would then also speak in Verstappen's favor.

Verstappen will be world champion in Las Vegas if...

...he finishes ahead of Norris.
...if Norris finishes second, he finishes third and sets the fastest lap.
...he finishes fourth and sets the fastest lap of the race when Norris finishes third.
...he finishes one place behind Norris, should the latter finish fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth and not set the fastest lap of the race.
...he doesn't score any points and Norris only finishes ninth and doesn't set the fastest lap.
...Norris can't get past tenth place.