Lewis Hamilton was quick to pay tribute to Max Verstappen after the Red Bull driver sealed another world championship, further etching himself into the Formula 1 history books
Lewis Hamilton wasted no time in congratulating Max Verstappen after he landed a fourth successive world championship.
The Mercedes driver has an ongoing rivalry with the Dutchman who pipped the Briton to his first title in contentious circumstances three years ago. Since then he’s been able to cement his status as the best golfer, with little competition as he goes on making history.
Verstappen ended fifth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix but that was adequate to clinch the title as he crossed the chequered ahead of Lando Norris. What it did mean was that the Red Bull driver has now won four successive races – something that has only happened in the past by the four men.
Hamilton is one of those and although he was seething as he could not get a shot at overtaking Verstappen he was the first one to congratulate him.
He said after the race in Nevada: “That was great. Firstly I’ve got to say a big congratulations to Max for winning the championship, still with several races to go. If I’d done my job yesterday, it would have been a breeze today. But it’s ok. I had fun coming from 10th. The team did a fantastic job.”
Hamilton ended up coming home in second as Mercedes enjoyed a rare 1-2. George Russell executed a stunning drive from pole position to take the chequered flag with his team-mate coming through from tenth after a disappointing qualifying.
We don’t know why we were so quick this weekend, but that’s the best the car’s ever felt,” said Hamilton. “So I’m grateful to have been a part of getting it to that point. If the car drives like that in the next couple of races then I think we’ll be in a good spot to challenge the guys up front. The championship’s done, so now it’s just all out, fight for the best positions possible.”
Verstappen himself didn’t have the speed required to challenge for the race victory and was caught and passed by Hamilton as he climbed up the order. The Red Bull man though had done the hard yards in the early months of the season and will be out to match Michael Schumacher next season as the only man to win five on the bounce.
The Dutchman said on his latest achievement: “It’s been a long season. Of course, we began interesting, it was more like gliding but then there was a hard phase. However as a team that is what we did but still working hard and improving and pushing through to the end.
I am so proud of every single person, what they have done to me. And to be standing here four time world champion; it is of course something that I never dreamt could happen. However, at the moment can only feel rather relieved in a way and rather rather proud.