Despite finishing fifth in the race, the Dutch driver took an unbeatable 63-point lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris in the championship.

The race was won by Brit George Russell (Mercedes), who also started on pole. It was a Mercedes one-two finish as Russell’s teammate, former World Championship Driver Lewis Hamilton, finished in second.  

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz took the final place on the podium in third, with team-mate Charles Leclerc finishing fourth. Norris, who finished sixth, made a late pitstop to secure a bonus point for the fastest lap

MAX VERSTAPPEN, YOU ARE THE WORLD CHAMPION! ?? pic.twitter.com/Wr6EJdCEwx

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) November 24, 2024

Norris’ team-mate, Oscar Piastri, was seventh with Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, RB's Yuki Tsunoda and Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez completing the top 10.

In the constructors’ standings, Ferrari closed the gap to McLaren to 24 points.

After the race, Verstappen thanked his team over the team radio. “What a season. Four times. Thank you, guys. Thank you to everyone,” he said. “It was a little bit more difficult than last year, but we pulled through and we gave it everything.”

‘2025 looks set to be even closer’

After the race, Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali congratulated Verstappen. “He is a true great of this sport and has so much more to look forward to in his impressive career,” he said. “This season has been thrilling and 2025 looks set to be even closer.”

Verstappen joins Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel as a four-time champion, with only Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio ahead of him on that list. Only Verstappen and Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel from 2010-2013 have won their first four titles consecutively.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger cg