5 moments you missed from F1 in Las Vegas: Post-driving Verstappen drinking and infinity beckons

Las Vegas Grand Prix

5 moments you missed from F1 in Las Vegas: Post-driving Verstappen drinking and infinity beckons

The Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered some incredible moments once again

Simmey Hannifin Donaldson Chief Editor

Sunday 24 November 2024 21:00

The Formula 1 world drivers' championship was decided for 2024 in Las Vegas on the weekend, but not without some tension.

All Max Verstappen had to do was finish ahead of Lando Norris as the end of the race to snap up a fourth defensive stretch.

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Only Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher have won four consecutive world championships in F1 until now, with Schumacher's record of five back-to-back title wins now within touching distance for Verstappen.

We should not forget that the race itself was won by Mercedes star George Russell, of course. However, Verstappen, for obvious reasons, is the name on everyone's lips after the chequered flag.

Lewis Hamilton delivers team-mate jibe

Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton will no doubt feel a hint of disappointment regarding his weekend in Las Vegas.

Having shown strong pace in FP1 and FP2, Hamilton ultimately failed to deliver in qualifying, only able to put his car P10 on the grid for Saturday's race.

Although he made up for this with a P2 finish during the grand prix, you can't help but think he could have dominated this race had he started closer to the front.

That was a sentiment shared by Hamilton himself after the race when being interviewed by former McLaren team-mate Jenson Button and Hollywood star Terry Crews after the race.

In that same interview, though, Hamilton also took the chance to take a tongue-in-cheek jibe at his former colleague, admittedly at his own expense.

Reminded that it was 10 years to the day yesterday that he won his first world championship with Mercedes, Hamilton jokingly responded: "We both looked a lot younger then didn't we?"

"If I'd done my job yesterday, it would have been a breeze today" 😅

Lewis reflects on a bittersweet Las Vegas weekend 🎰 pic.twitter.com/3wI4hZIqeQ
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) November 24, 2024

F1 RESULTS: Mercedes take STUNNING 1-2 as Verstappen crowned champion at Las Vegas Grand Prix

Alpine make major pit stop blunder

Elsewhere in Las Vegas, it was a really disappointing day for Alpine and both of their drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon.

Fresh off the back of their double podium in Brazil, Alpine had a great start to the weekend in Las Vegas, too, with Gasly qualifying in P3.

The race itself proved a completely different story for the team, however, with Gasly being forced to retire early on due to a major engine issue.

If that wasn't bad enough, when Esteban Ocon came in to do one of his pit stops in the race, the team's pit crew were not ready, meaning he had to drive straight through and instead come back again when they were ready.

Essentially, Ocon served a pit lane penalty without actually being given one. Given Alpine's fierce fight in the constructors' championship and the crucial dollars that come with it, it could prove to be a very costly blunder.

Ocon had only one mechanic waiting for him after being told to box, and had to pit again.
byu/RumBlaze informula1

Max Verstappen on the beer

Having secured a fourth world championship, Max Verstappen was very much in the mood to celebrate into the night in Las Vegas.

Immediately after the race, Verstappen's team were kitted out in 'M4X' merchandise, and the champion himself had a '2024 world champion' cap on.

This wasn't the only stuff pre-prepared for the championship celebrations, it seems, with Verstappen doing his round in the media pen on Dutch television channel ViaPlay whilst drinking a can of Heineken.

The four-time champion claimed that it was his first one, but we suspect there might be one or two more coming his way as the night unfolds in Las Vegas.

viaplay: party? right now?

max: i'm still finishing this one! it's the first one..

viaplay: your first one?

max: i just got to the garage, that's where they were! i'm still on my way. pic.twitter.com/4rB8MvzoVE
— nini (@SCUDERIAFEMBOY) November 24, 2024

F1 WORLD CHAMPIONS: The full list from Farina to four-time King Verstappen

To infinity and beyond for Visa Cash App RB

With the race in Las Vegas being a showpiece event, many teams and drivers chose to take on a new look heading into the weekend.

One of those teams was Visa Cash App RB, who opted for a new 'glitter' livery that looked incredible under the lights of the street circuit.

However, driver Yuki Tsunoda was not initially a fan, it seems, telling the media that he thought the car and the overall made him look like Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.

Tsunoda revealed this after the race, where he also claimed he 'became like buzz' and maximised every lap in Las Vegas, where he finished P9. Naturally, the VCARB social team mocked up a wonderful image in tribute to this.

To points and beyond 🚀 IYKYK#F1 #VCARB #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/mbGkfzcywS
— Visa Cash App RB F1 Team (@visacashapprb) November 24, 2024

Lando Norris congratulates Max Verstappen

Whilst Verstappen will be on a high tonight after wrapping up the title, it will no doubt be a bitter evening for title rival Lando Norris.

Although the McLaren star had a big deficit to make up after the start of the season, Norris proved himself a genuine challenger to the Dutchman as the 2024 season progressed, with the pair having a few heated moments on track during that time, too.

With that said, it was fantastic to see Norris and Verstappen chatting post-race in Vegas, with Norris congratulating the new F1 champion on his accolade.

Both drivers had huge smiles on their faces as they shook hands and shared a warm embrace in the media pen, and it seems that despite their fierce rivalry this season, their close friendship is still very much intact.

lando congratulating max 🥹🩷 pic.twitter.com/1xQGDmi5nJ
— nini (@SCUDERIAFEMBOY) November 24, 2024

Written by

Simmey Hannifin Donaldson - Chief Editor

Simmey Hannifin Donaldson is a motorsport journalist and editor specializing in NASCAR. He covers the sport across the Cup Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Truck Series, producing breaking news, live race reports, features, analysis, and opinion.

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Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Formula 1 Lando Norris Las Vegas