Verstappen captures 4th F1 championship after Mercedes sweep of Las Vegas Grand Prix

Max Verstappen wins fourth F1 championship in Las Vegas, celebrates with team and champagne.

Asked how he planned to celebrate his fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship, Max Verstappen did a quick scan of the room searching for a drop of alcohol.

“Well, I ran out of beer, so I don't know,” he said. “Maybe another one, and then maybe I switch to something else. I don't need to drive anymore, so we don't do the drink and drive. I don't need to do that.”

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Actually, Verstappen can do anything he wants after finishing fifth on Saturday night in the Las Vegas Grand Prix to beat Lando Norris of McLaren for the title with two F1 races remaining this season.

The Red Bull driver is now a king of Las Vegas, a year after he arrived in Sin City extremely negative about the extravagant race on the famed Strip. He won and completely changed his tune last November as the Dutchman even sang “Viva Las Vegas” as he crossed the finish line.

Now he used the street circuit to become only the sixth driver in F1 history to win at least four titles. Verstappen needed only to finish ahead of Norris to win the title. He started fifth but was already up to second by the 10th lap and Norris never challenged.

He ended the race up 63 points over Norris with two events remaining this season — a position Verstappen said he never expected to be in even though he's the son of a former F1 driver. His father, Jos, was even once teammates with Michael Schumacher, one of the best in F1 history.