Verstappen: Sometimes we got more than we deserved

The Dutchman claimed yet another Drivers' Championship in Formula 1, this time with two races remaining following the conclusion of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. While only finishing fifth in the night race, he crossed the line ahead of nearest rival Lando Norris, which was all that was needed to claim Title number four.

Norris ended up in P6, while fellow Briton George Russell dominated proceedings in the United States by leading a Mercedes one-two with Lewis Hamilton in second place. Verstappen holds a 63-point advantage over Norris in the Standings; with only a maximum of 60 points on offer in the final couple of rounds that makes it impossible for anyone to catch the Red Bull driver.

2024 was a season of ups and downs for Verstappen and the Milton Keynes-based outfit he drives for. The season started off in a similarly dominant fashion as the previous year, with Verstappen winning seven of the opening ten Grands Prix.

Trouble was brewing in the background however as Team Principal Christian Horner faced an internal investigation over alleged inappropriate and controlling behaviour. Several figures in the Red Bull paddock, including Verstappen's father Jos, called for Horner's removal and intra-team tension persisted throughout the year. Furthermore, Chief Technology Officer Adrian Newey's departure from the outfit was a big blow to their future aspirations.

Red Bull's relative performance dipped in the second half of 2024, with the likes of McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes stealing wins from the defending Champions. Norris closed to within 47 points of Verstappen following the Mexico City Grand Prix, igniting a possible Drivers' Title showdown right to the final race.

However, Verstappen produced a standout drive in wet conditions at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, winning from 17th on the starting grid to put the Championship beyond reasonable doubt. He then drove a relaxed race in Las Vegas, avoiding unnecessary drama to claim another Drivers' Title with minimal pressure on his shoulders.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the Grand Prix, Verstappen commented on his feelings after defending his Drivers' crown. He said: "It feels of course great. I mean it's been a very long season.

"Many races, many good races but also many tough races. It was all about just optimising, trying sometimes to limit the damage. But at the end of the day I'm just proud of what we've achieved," stated Verstappen.

When asked if he ever felt as if he would lose sight of the Championship at any point, the 27-year-old added: "I never really like to believe so. Of course at times it looked very tough, I didn't want to give up at all. That's not how I am anyway.

"But at times it was not easy with the car, a clear lack of pace in places. But we still managed to get the best result out of it, or sometimes even more than what we deserved," added the now-four-time World Champion.

"At the end of the day, most of the time you create your own luck, and that's what we did," Verstappen concluded.

Although the Drivers' Championship is decided, it is still all to play for in the Constructors' Standings. Ferrari closed the gap to leaders McLaren to just 24 points following P3 and P4 finishes in Vegas for Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc respectively. Red Bull are a further 30 points behind Ferrari and are unlikely to mount a challenge, but will nevertheless be delighted to secure at least one Title courtesy of Verstappen.