As we approach the end of the Formula One season, Max Verstappen is very much in the driving seat to secure his fourth title in a row.
The calendar takes the world’s best drivers to Las Vegas this weekend and after finally winning again in Brazil a fortnight ago, the Red Bull driver has a healthy points lead with just three races left.
It’s a measure of just how good Verstappen is that he went 10 races without winning and nobody was able to catch him. What’s scary for the rest of the grid is that he’s unlikely to endure a repeat of his bad form in 2025.
However, in Lando Norris, Formula One has found a worthy challenger. The British driver has excelled this year, with three wins and a further 12 podiums, and he’s established himself as a clear title contender in the future.
Barring a miracle, he won’t take Verstappen’s throne this time around. But after three years of the ‘Max Verstappen show’, it’s a relief that he finally has some competition and the pair are set to resume their competitive rivalry in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The race for the title
Verstappen finally got back to winning ways last time out as he finished first in Brazil two weeks ago. The reigning champion uncharacteristically went 10 races without winning but he put an end to his disappointing form with a long-awaited victory.
The win edged Verstappen further ahead of Norris in the standings. The Brit had been steadily making ground but he wasn’t able to capitalise enough, only winning two races during Verstappen’s sticky patch.
Norris did get four other podium finishes in the time but he only managed to finish sixth in Sao Paulo. He remains more than 60 points behind so it’s unlikely that he’ll claim his first F1 title this year. Verstappen appears to be back on form and he’ll want to end the season in style, having won the final seven races a year ago.
Elsewhere, Charles Leclerc is breathing down Norris’ neck having won two of the last six races, with another two podiums. The pair have been models of consistency this year – the British Grand Prix, nine races ago and way back in July, was the last time either of them finished outside the top five.
In his final year racing for Mercedes before switching to Ferrari for the 2025 season, Lewis Hamilton had hoped to mount a late charge for a record eighth title. But those dreams disappeared a while ago.
A mid-season flurry that had seen him win at Silverstone and in Belgium, while claiming third in Spain and Hungary, had given him faint hope. But it didn’t last long – the 39-year-old has achieved no podiums since and he’s slipped down to seventh in the standings.
F1 standings after 21 races
Position | Driver | Team | Wins | Podiums | Points |
1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 8 | 13 | 393 |
2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 3 | 12 | 331 |
3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 3 | 11 | 307 |
4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 2 | 7 | 262 |
5 | Carlos Sainz Jr | Ferrari | 2 | 7 | 244 |
6 | George Russel | Mercedes | 1 | 3 | 192 |
7 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 2 | 4 | 190 |
Las Vegas Grand Prix
Next up on the Formula One calendar is the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Sin City’s inaugural race took place last year and it’s set to return to the iconic streets, with parts of the unique night race taking place along the Vegas strip.
The race takes place this Sunday, 24th November, with Verstappen looking to come out on top for the second year running. There’s still time to take your seats in our exclusive hospitality area on the breathtaking Drai’s Las Vegas rooftop.
As well as unrivalled views of the race, you’ll get the chance to experience all this:
● Access to Vista Terrace viewing with track view
● Access to lower deck viewing circle and Drai’s nightclub
● Hosted service, food stations, canapés and cheese station
● Complimentary bar with Champagne, local beers, wine and spirits
● TV in your private suite
Enquire today to reserve your place.
What’s next?
Following the Las Vegas Grand Prix, we head to the Middle East for the final two races of the 2024 season. First up is Qatar on Sunday 1st December before the final race of the year in Abu Dhabi a week later.
Verstappen won both races back in 2023 and if he repeats history, he’ll finish the year with a fourth consecutive F1 Drivers’ Championship.
If you’d like to join us to watch either of the final two races in style, we’d love to help make that happen. Our travel and concierge team are on hand to help you get to either the Qatar Grand Prix or the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where you can enjoy the action from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages.