Motorsports

Max Verstappen secured his fourth straight Formula One championship with a fifth-place showing in Saturday's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

George Russell won the race itself, finishing 7.313 seconds ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. The 26-year-old has two checkered flags for the 2024 season.

Winning in Vegas, what a moment!! A massive thank you to the whole team for your hard work all weekend, we deserved that 1-2. LET’S GO!!🍾🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/z4Rh7YWbgE

— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) November 24, 2024

Hamilton, meanwhile, got onto the podium for the first time since winning the Belgian Grand Prix in July. A runner-up finish was a major improvement from starting in 10th.

Lewis with the moves 🕺

Hamilton powers from P10 to the podium 💪#F1 #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/qBeYAGzekW

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 24, 2024

Ultimately the spotlight in Sin City belonged to Verstappen, though. His four championships put him into a tie with Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel for the third-most in F1 history. Only Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio have more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Four time world champion!!! A season with a lot of challenges, but we worked hard as a team. I am very proud of us 🏆 This would never have been possible without all the dedication and effort of everyone at @redbullracing 🙌 A huge thank you to all involved for this… pic.twitter.com/mnekjbdC3a

— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) November 24, 2024

Unlike in 2023, Verstappen had to face a little bit of adversity on the road to his title.

Last year, the Red Bull Racing clinched the F1 championship in early October. No driver had ever been as dominant from start to finish in a single season.

It looked like 2024 might be more of the same when Verstappen opened with seven straight poles and five victories. His performance tailed off a bit, however, which opened the door for a challenge by Lando Norris.

When Norris cruised past the field in the Singapore Grand Prix, some fans might've begun to talk themselves into his long-shot bid to overtake Verstappen.

In the end, Verstappen was simply inevitable.

"He drove a better season than I did, he deserved it more than anyone else," Norris said after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. "Max just doesn't have a weakness.

"When he's got the best car he dominates and when he's not got the best car he's still just there always, always there to make your life tough and difficult."

Carlos Sainz chose to put a more positive spin on things since Verstappen didn't turn this year into one long coronation.

"As much as I think Max did an incredible job this year... the second half of the season just shows that when we are all in more of equal machinery, we can go up against each other and make each other's lives difficult," he said.

Two more races remain on the F1 calendar. The Qatar Grand Prix is the next stop this coming week with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to follow on Dec. 8.

The constructors title remains up for grabs with McLaren leading Ferrari by just 24 points, so there's more than just pride on the line across the two events.

Legendary Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton admitted this week that there was a moment during the Brazilian Grand Prix earlier this month where he felt the desire to bring an early end to his tenure at Mercedes.

Hamilton was heard on the team radio during the race suggesting that it would perhaps be his final race with Mercedes, and he told reporters Thursday that he was speaking from the heart in that moment:

"In the moment that's how I felt, like I didn't really want to come back after that weekend. But I think that's only natural. It's frustrating when you have a season like this, which I'm pretty sure I won't have again, or at least I'll work towards not having again.

"It wasn't a great feeling in that moment, but I'm here, I'm standing strong and I'm going to give it absolutely everything for these last few races."

Hamilton is in the midst of his final season with Mercedes before making the leap to Ferrari next season, but despite his comments in Brazil, he plans to see things through to the end by running the final three races of the 2024 campaign for Mercedes.

The 39-year-old Hamilton qualified a disappointing 16th for the race in Brazil before finishing 10th in rainy conditions., which is foreign territory for arguably the greatest F1 driver of all time.

Hamilton holds the all-time F1 record for race wins with 105, and he is tied with Michael Schumacher for the most career F1 drivers championships with seven.

For all his dominance, the past few years have been something of a slog for Hamilton, as nothing has come easily.

Although he finished sixth in points in 2022 and third in 2023, he didn't win a single race in either season. Hamilton got back in the win column this season with victories in the British Grand Prix and Belgian Grand Prix, but consistency has eluded him.

Due to having to retire from two races and registering five other finishes of ninth or 10th, Hamilton is only seventh in the standings.

If Hamilton doesn't move up at all over the final three races of the season, it will mark his worst-ever finish in the F1 standings since debuting in 2007.

Despite the trials and tribulations of the season, Hamilton claimed Thursday that he is in a positive headspace and ready to go out on a high note, saying:

"Honestly, I feel in the best place I've been all year mentally, and considering how bad the last race was, I think that says enough.

"I'm still here, still fighting and I'm going to continue to push. I've got a team that I genuinely still love, and even though I am leaving, I want to make sure I give them the best I can in these next races. If they provide a car that wants to stay on track then hopefully we'll have a better result."

Hamilton and Mercedes will long be remembered as one of the best partnerships in the history of motorsports, so it would only be fitting for him to end his tenure with the team triumphantly.

A storybook points title in his final season at Mercedes won't be in the cards with Max Verstappen dominating once again, but Hamilton will have three more chances to get another race win under his belt before departing for Ferrari.

It starts Sunday with the Las Vegas Grand Prix, followed by the Qatar Grand Prix on Dec. 1 and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec. 8.

In the final race of the 2024 NASCAR Monster Cup season, Ford's Joey Logano emerged victorious at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, defeating fellow Ford driver Ryan Blaney by 0.33 seconds.

With Logano's victory, he claimed his third NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

THE LEGEND OF LOGANO GROWS!@joeylogano is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion! pic.twitter.com/THSUyNfYZ1

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024

Chevrolet's William Byron finished third, 5.119 seconds behind the leader, while Chevrolet's Kyle Larson placed fourth, 7.169 seconds behind first.

Blaney entered Sunday's championship leading the standings with 5,000 points, bolstered by the best finishes in the early races that determined his placement, with Logano bringing in second place.

Blaney makes a charge, but it's not enough! @joeylogano is the champion in 2024! #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/HHFZV7GfkG

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024

Notably, Tyler Reddick finished in sixth place and Bubba Wallce in seventh.

With a total of 16 lead changes, the race to the top was a hard-fought battle, particularly between Byron and Logano, who had been vying for the top spot all season long.

Bobby Allison, a NASCAR Hall of Famer who won the Daytona 500 three times, died at 86 on Saturday, per the Associated Press.

NASCAR announced that Allison died peacefully at his home.

The NASCAR family mourns the loss of Bobby Allison, who passed away peacefully at home today at the age of 86. pic.twitter.com/X4zUxohSNc

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2024

Allison, who became full-time on the Grand National circuit in 1965, is fourth on NASCAR's all-time win list for its premier series. He made 718 career starts, the 14th-most in series history, and finished inside the top five 336 times, the most of any driver besides the legendary Richard Petty.

He was the 1983 premier-series champion and won 85 races during his career.

He won the Dayton 500 in 1978, 1982 and 1988 and the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway four times (1971, '72, '75, '83). Allison also claimed victory at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway three times ('71, '81, '84).

Allison helped propel NASCAR to the national stage both with his performance on the track and his personality off it, which added entertainment value to the sport. During the 1979 Daytona 500, his fight with Cale Yarborough in the final laps made headlines and sparked a new era for NASCAR.

Allison was a founding member of the legendary "Alabama Gang," a racing group started by Allison, his brother Donnie and Red Farmer. The group gained and lost members over the years, but all of the original members have been inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Frankie Muniz's first season as a NASCAR driver ended with an unfortunate wreck on Friday at the Craftsman Truck Series Championship.

The Malcolm in the Middle star, who made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut earlier this season, limped away from a crash on Friday, but confirmed after the race that he's fine.

"I'm okay, yeah. Unfortunate," he told reporters after the race (h/t Deadline's Glenn Garner). "I felt like got a good opportunity to run with some guys, I made some passes. Lost a few spots on restarts, then went back out and passed them again. So it was good for me to figure out how to get by people, you know I haven't really gotten to do that much this year so that was really positive."

A big mess in Phoenix. 😳 https://t.co/5MxiqKB6cD pic.twitter.com/uVPFSNiTUb

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) November 9, 2024

Muniz was promoted to full-time for the Reaume Brothers Racing team's 2025 season in October after making his NASCAR debut last January.

"Ever since childhood, it's been my dream to pursue racing in NASCAR, and it was important for me to partner with a team that aligned with my long-term objectives and vision while providing every opportunity imaginable to grow mentally and physically as a full-time race car driver," Muniz said in a statement (h/t Deadline's Bruce Haring).

The former actor has been involved in the racing world for years and finally got the chance to compete in NASCAR recently. While his season didn't end the way he would have liked, he said he's looking forward to getting back behind the wheel next year.

"That said, I'm so grateful for my team," Muniz said. "And I'm so excited for next season. This year wasn't what we had hoped, but this proved that I can race with guys, I can pass here. We're gonna be better next year, and I've got the whole off-season to prepare. We're gonna go get it."

Max Verstappen started F1 São Paulo GP in 17th but finished it in first place for his eighth win of the season.

STARTS P17, FINISHES P1 🤩

MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE 2024 SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX!!

What an extraordinary drive 👏👏👏#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/0KnYj1862x

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 3, 2024

GP: "You are the man!"
MV: "Aaaagggggghhhhh, yes!!!!"#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/jjj1DNCtJJ

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 3, 2024

Formula 1 put Verstappen's remarkable feat in context.

Max won after starting P17 on the grid

Only FIVE out of 1,121 previous world championship races have been won from 17th or lower on the grid #F1 #BrazilGP

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 3, 2024

Verstappen, who has won the last three F1 World Drivers' Championship titles, is well on his way to a fourth now, especially after his win Sunday.

Verstappen has already established himself as an F1 legend long before Sunday, but he added another brilliant chapter to his legacy with his win from 17th.

Max Verstappen becomes the first driver in F1 history to win from 10 different grid positions 🤯

P1, P2, P3, P4, P6, P7, P9, P10, P14 and P17 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ywjJoVdBj4

— Autosport (@autosport) November 3, 2024

Needless to say, Verstappen received plenty of adulation for his brilliant performance.

max verstappen right now pic.twitter.com/Py8zSWDe5L

— nini (@SCUDERIAFEMBOY) November 3, 2024

Max Verstappen has just won by 19 seconds from 17th on the grid, in treacherous conditions and with his back to the wall he has produced one of the GREATEST drives of all time

In a completely different category to everybody else. pic.twitter.com/npqzGdejLd

— ✯ 1 (@Willseh14) November 3, 2024

This is stunning from Verstappen. No DRS. Just pure pace and skill.

— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) November 3, 2024

Statement. Made. pic.twitter.com/AjWVw7Oayp

— Verstappen News (@verstappenews) November 3, 2024

Max Verstappen started 17th with his title rival on pole

Wins the race and extends his lead to 62 points

The best drive of his career?

— Tom Bellingham (@TomP1Bellingham) November 3, 2024

Max Verstappen has proved why he's a 3 (soon to be 4) time champion of the world today

Utterly sensational to go from 17th to 1st in a crazy race like this

Not had the fastest car this year but certainly made the difference when needed

— Matt Gallagher (@MattP1Gallagher) November 3, 2024

Max Verstappen going from P17 to P2 and having to face his mortal enemy Esteban Ocon for the win is more cinematic than any Martin Scorcese movie

— Danny (@DannyBrennan72) November 3, 2024

Max Verstappen delivered 17 fastest laps in the race

Wow.

— Matt Gallagher (@MattP1Gallagher) November 3, 2024

Class of his own. One the greatest drives of all time.

P17 to P1. Winning by 19 seconds. Almost a pitstop gap.

Max Verstappen🏆 pic.twitter.com/50HvZ8bv02

— Enzo (@Aperta) November 3, 2024

Verstappen started the race at P17 and won the race with 18 seconds ahead..

This race was won on pure pace & skill and No DRS.

He made the biggest statement and showed the world he is the best ever to do it..

Win number 62!!!

My GOAT. pic.twitter.com/mfQLDQ90Y4

— Donny Verstappen (@DonnyVerstappen) November 3, 2024

It was also a great day for Alpine, which got a double on the podium with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly finishing second and third, respectively.

But Verstappen reigned supreme on a rainy day in São Paulo.

The latest driver standings feature Verstappen in first with 393 points, followed by Lando Norris (331) and Charles Leclerc (307).

Three races remain this season in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Up first is Las Vegas on Nov. 24.

Carlos Sainz claimed victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Spanish driver raced to victory at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, finishing over four seconds ahead of Lando Norris, who claimed second.

CARLOS SAINZ WINS THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX!!! 🏆🇲🇽

FERRARI MAKE IT BACK-TO-BACK WINS!! #F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/YsZkarpYNe

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 27, 2024

Sainz and Ferrari showcased impressive speed and consistency throughout the race, earning crucial points and helping Ferrari overtake Red Bull for second place in the Constructor standings.

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes finished in fourth place, 44.780 seconds behind the leader. Notably, Red Bull's Max Verstappen completed the race in sixth.

And here's the full race classification 👇#F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/gqO3O9wjSF

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 27, 2024

Verstappen received a 20-second penalty after forcing Norris off the track early in the race while the two battled for second-place positioning.

Norris could be heard telling McLaren over the radio, "This guy is dangerous, I just had to avoid a crash," according to ESPN's Nate Saunders. "It's the same as last time."

Verstappen remains the current leader in the driver standings with 362 points, but Norris is putting the pressure on him in second place with 315 points. Sainz currently stands in fifth with 240 points and Hamilton has 189 points, good for sixth place.

McLaren continues to lead the Constructors Championship with 566 points, while Ferrari is right on their heels after today's performance with 537 points. Red Bull is closely trailing in third with 512 points.

He wanted one more win with Ferrari.

He got one more win with Ferrari.

'Cause he's a smoooooth operator 😉#F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/zJXslK7dgL

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 27, 2024

Building on this victory, Sainz will look to carry forward the momentum into next week's São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil with a strong chance to move up to fourth place.

Tyler Reddick clinched his place in the Championship 4 with a brilliant and dramatic win on the final turn during Sunday's Straight Talk Wireless 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

WHAT A BATTLE! Tyler Reddick gets around Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney to WIN at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He's in the Championship 4! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/v53HBqQHkp

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 27, 2024

After the race, a thrilled Michael Jordan—the NBA legend who cofounded 23XI Racing alongside Denny Hamlin—celebrated with Reddick.

That's one happy boss. pic.twitter.com/gndoIQPTzm

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 27, 2024

"Little kid drove his ass off," Jordan told NBC Sports' Dave Burns after the race (h/t Nate Ryan of NBC Sports). "I'm proud of him. Oh man, he just let go. He just went for it, and I'm glad. We needed it. We needed it."

"We were backed in the corner, man, and we had no other choice," Reddick added while speaking to Marty Snider of NBC Sports. "We were going to do what it took to win this race and fight for a championship. I couldn't believe It. I just knew I needed to get on [Ryan Blaney's] right-side door. He raced me clean, I appreciate it."

So did a jubilant Jordan.

Actor Frankie Muniz will drive full-time for Reaume Brothers Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starting with the 2025 season.

"I'm incredibly excited to join Reaume Brothers Racing full-time in 2025," he said in Tuesday's announcement. "My longstanding relationship with Ford has been a game changer, and I am thrilled to help facilitate additional support allowing us to tap into their exceptional technical and engineering resources. I'm confident that this synergy will elevate Reaume Brothers Racing and help us achieve great things together. I can't wait to get started."

Contract signed! Frankie Muniz to the No. 33 full-time in 2025! 🖊️ pic.twitter.com/w87psBS5IO

— Reaume Brothers Racing (@RBR_Teams) October 22, 2024

Muniz, who starred in Malcolm in the Middle, has made two starts this year. He placed 31st in June's Rackley Roofing 200 and then 29th in the Kubota Tractor 200 last month.

He has also run in two NASCAR Xfinity Series events and failed to qualify for the Pacific Office Automation 147 in June.

The 38-year-old first announced in January 2023 that he was becoming a full-time driver to fulfill a lifelong dream of his.

Finally making my dream a reality, this one is for my son and showing him that you can always chase your dreams.

Excited for this opportunity with Rette Jones Racing, Ford, and our partners to go full time racing for an ARCA National Series Championship in 2023. pic.twitter.com/OhbFnlMNKW

— Frankie Muniz (@frankiemuniz) January 11, 2023

Muniz signed with Rette Jones Racing to compete in the ARCA Menards Series. He wound up finishing fourth for the season with one top-five finish and 11 top-10s in 18 appearances.

Competing full-time on the Truck Series circuit will be a big step up in his burgeoning motorsports career.

"I want people to know that I've literally dedicated my life to this. You know what I mean?" he said, per People's Ingrid Vasquez and Chris Barilla. "I love it. When I'm not in the race car, I'm thinking about being in the race car. I'm training, I'm in the simulator at Ford, the Ford Performance Technical Center. I'm working with my engineers and my crew chiefs and the team and doing everything I can. Watching tape, watching past races at the racetracks I'm going to just to be as prepared as humanly possible."

Muniz is entered in the Baptist Health 200, which is the next stop on the Truck Series schedule. The green flag drops at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Charles LeClerc has emerged victorious in Austin.

The Monacan driver cruised to a victory at the 2024 USA F1 Grand Prix, finishing with a blazing time of 1:35:09.639.

IT'S CHARLES!!!

LECLERC WINS IN AUSTIN!!! 🤩#F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/JGEtAj876k

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 20, 2024

INTRODUCING YOUR RACE WINNER 👏

LET’S GOOOO @charles_leclerc#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Ukwerr6ewo

— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) October 20, 2024

LeClerc finished 8.5 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Carlos Sainz. The two are teammates for Ferrari and became the first Ferrari 1-2 at the U.S. Grand Prix since Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa finished in first and second in 2006.

The first Ferrari 1-2 in the US since 2006 👀

2024: Charles Leclerc & Carlos Sainz
2006: Michael Schumacher & Felipe Massa#USGP pic.twitter.com/gcxkDBfPCh

— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) October 20, 2024

Max Verstappen finished the race in third and was nearly 20 seconds behind LeClerc. Lewis Hamilton did not finish the race and came in last place.

Verstappen still currently leads the F1 standings with 354 points but LeClerc is third and pushing Lando Norris for the second place slot.

Norris nearly claimed third place over Verstappen but was penalized and knocked down to fourth place. The penalty was assessed due to Norris passing Verstappen offtrack. Norris expressed frustration at the ruling.

McLaren remains in the lead for the constructors championship, with Red Bull currently sitting in second place and Ferrari being close behind in third.

LeClerc will hope to take this momentum into next week's Mexican Grand Prix and potentially move into second place. Verstappen still holds a significant lead over the field, but will need to push for more podium finishes in order to seal the overall victory.