Max Verstappen has clinched his fourth world championship! The Dutch driver’s world title overshadowed Mercedes’ one-two finish and the battle for the third podium spot between Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Consequently, international media are primarily focusing on the Dutchman’s fourth consecutive title.
Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport observed how Verstappen, despite finishing no higher than fifth place, stole the show in Las Vegas. “He has joined a very exclusive club that includes Juan Manuel Fangio, Michael Schumacher, and Lewis Hamilton, the other drivers capable of playing poker with consecutive titles,” praises the Italian sports newspaper of the Red Bull driver. “He is increasingly making his mark in the history of the sport, and deservedly so. Of the four titles he has won, this is the one he had to build personally.”
According to the Italian outlet, after Verstappen’s phenomenal comeback race in Brazil, it was only a matter of time before he would secure his fourth world title. The formidable Dutchman is therefore expected to be the favorite to claim his fifth title in 2025. “Some say that Red Bull will not be as strong next year, that rivals will pounce on him. Maybe so. But Max is, against all odds, the fastest, most complete, best-prepared, and best-armored driver. He will still be the logical favorite for the title. Or at least, he will make those who want to dethrone him suffer.”
‘Russell’s Victory Rightly Overshadowed’
In the United Kingdom, home country of rival Lando Norris and Las Vegas winner George Russell, they also saw Verstappen walk away with the ‘jackpot’. According to the correspondent at The Guardian, George Russell’s victory was ‘rightly’ overshadowed. “(Verstappen) played exactly the hand he needed to play, while title rival Norris could only finish sixth.
“It was another textbook example of Max Verstappen making the best of the situation, as he has done several times this season,” the British media continues. “A victory wasn’t really in the cards, given the fact that Red Bull was struggling here and the speed of both Ferrari and Mercedes. So, he did enough to clinch the title.” The British newspaper also praises Verstappen’s maturity. “While the whirlwind raged around Red Bull and their car was bogged down by developments that robbed the team of pace instead of making improvements, Verstappen repeatedly emerged and drove harder than the machines actually allowed.”
‘Verstappen Has His Best Years Ahead of Him’
The French L’Équipe praises the second edition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix “as a real event, which ended months of tension. Just like last season, the world title for drivers was awarded on a Saturday.” However, the French newspaper also sees a very important difference with the 2023 world title of the Dutch driver. “This time it was in a completely different, much more exuberant setting that the Dutch driver became the equal of Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel, at only 27 years old and with his best years probably still ahead of him.”
‘King of Motorsport’
Our southern neighbors are of course also more than proud of Verstappen. “Max Verstappen remains the king of motorsport,” writes the Belgian HLN. “The Red Bull driver had to stay ahead of Lando Norris in the United States and he did that easily. After three times in Asia, Verstappen became world champion on American soil for the first time. (Norris could not, ed.) threaten his competitor at any moment.”
“He remains the king of motorsport,” our southern neighbors even say about the newly crowned world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull Content Pool).
