George Russell Wins, Max Verstappen Finishes Fifth as He Clinches Fourth Championship
In a thrilling race that saw George Russell of Mercedes claim victory, Max Verstappen finished fifth, securing his fourth Formula 1 World Championship.
The Dutchman now joins an elite group of drivers, including Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio, Sebastian Vettel, and Alain Prost, with four championship titles.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton finished in second, with Ferraris Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc rounding out the podium in third and fourth positions respectively.
Lando Norris, who had been steadily closing the gap on Verstappen throughout the second half of the season, started the race from sixth position, just behind his championship rival. The McLaren driver made an early pit stop on lap 10, dropping to 17th place. Verstappen followed shortly after, pitting on lap 12, and rejoined the race in sixth.
After the first round of pit stops, Russell remained in the lead with Verstappen in second.
The Ferrari drivers, Sainz and Leclerc, along with Hamilton, provided a strong challenge in the middle of the pack, all creating a buffer between Verstappen and Norris.
Norris expressed frustration on his team radio at the halfway point, reporting struggles with the front tires of his McLaren, which affected his performance under the lights. Despite this, Norris managed to finish in a respectable position, but Verstappens steady drive secured his championship, solidifying his place as one of the sports all-time greats.
