VERSTAPPEN TAKES FOURTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AS RUSSELL WINS IN LAS VEGAS
It may have been victory on the streets of Las Vegas for George Russell who takes his third career win in Formula One but the story really is that of Max Verstappen who after 50 laps around the streets of Vegas becomes a Four Time World Champion joining the likes of Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel. It was a weekend dominated by the Mercedes team as they take a 1-2 finish in third to final race of the season in what has been a mixed year for the team from Brackley. Carlos Sainz for Ferrari took the final step of the podium.
It was pole sitter George Russell (Mercedes) who got a great start and leads into turn one with Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) up to second with Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) third and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) fourth. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) who stays ahead of Lando Norris (McLaren) off the line.
Just four laps into the race and Verstappen passes Gasly for fourth. As Leclerc attempts to take the lead off Russell but he isn’t successful.
Four laps after taking fourth Verstappen is now up to third - Leclerc has conceded the position to Sainz and now has dropped to fourth with Max passing him. The tyres for Leclerc seemed to have dropped off already!
And just one fifth into this race and Verstappen is up to second passing Sainz just before the Ferrari pits.
The first retirement of the race came on lap sixteen when Gasly's engine begins smoking and losing power thankfully he's at the pit entry so there’s no risk of yellow flags or a Safety Car. Gasly is out after such a promising qualifying.
After seventeen laps the top five have now all pitted and Russell leads from Verstappen in second with Sainz and Leclerc behind the Red Bull with Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) in fifth.
The final piece of drama was on lap twenty six when Alex Albon (Williams) was forced to retire with a mechanical issue.
Max Verstappen ends the day as a Four Time World Champion and becomes the third driver behind Nelson Piquet and Keke Rosberg to be crowned Champion in Las Vegas.
The next race is the Qatar Grand Prix.
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