Max Verstappen joked with McLaren boss Zak Brown after winning his fourth F1 title (Photo: Sky Sports/Getty)
Max Verstappen couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at one of his F1 rivals after clinching his fourth consecutive drivers’ championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
George Russell claimed victory on Sunday in an action-packed race but Verstappen was the talk of Sin City after finishing ahead of Lando Norris to secure the 2024 title.
The Red Bull driver looked set to cruise to glory again after dominating the first-half of the season, but McLaren’s turnaround in pace allowed Norris to mount an unlikely title challenge.
Despite picking up several wins, the gap was just too big for the Brit to close with the Dutchman wrapping up proceedings and cementing himself as an F1 legend with two races of the season still to go.
Verstappen and Norris and their teams have clashed several times over the past year, with McLaren CEO Zak Brown not holding back in his criticism of Red Bull and their team principal Christian Horner.
In May, Brown notably suggested that Verstappen’s performances were not that special, claiming ‘six or seven’ drivers on the grid would win the championship if given his car.
There was no such hostility between the pair in Vegas however as Brownwent to congratulate Verstappen as he was being interviewed by Sky Sports, though the 27-year-old clearly hadn’t forgotten his rival’s comments.
Lando Norris was unable to pull off a remarkable comeback in the title fight (Photo: Getty)
‘You pushed us all the way,’ Verstappen said to Brown as they shook hands.
The American replied: ‘You earned it. Four world championships. Beat my Senna guy,’ referring to McLaren legend and three-time champion Ayrton Senna.
‘Like you said before, I could only win it in the fastest car. This year’s been a little different!’ a grinning Verstappen jested, with Brown laughing beforereplying ‘exactly’.
McLaren are still likely to beat Red Bull to the constructors’ title (Photo: Getty)
Norris, who finished one place behind Verstappen in sixth, offered his own congratulations, saying: ‘Knowing the championship is 100 per cent over, we always had a little hope inside but he drove an incredible season.
‘When he had the quickest car, he dominated. When he didn’t, he was still there and always in my heels.
‘He made my life tough. We made his tough I’m sure at times. But he drove a better season and of course a big congrats to him. That’s the main thing.’
Brown and Norris can still get one over on Horner and Verstappen though as McLaren lead the constructors’ championship with just the grand prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to go.
The British team are 24 points ahead of Ferrari, with Red Bull 53 points behind and looking unlikely to defend their crown.
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