Autosport podcast: Las Vegas GP analysis as Verstappen clinches F1 title

Ben Hunt and Mark Mann-Bryans are live from the casino to round up the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen hit the ultimate jackpot of a fourth Formula 1 world championship. 

The duo discuss his title win, which Ben says is the Red Bull driver’s best one yet, and take a deep dive into his calculated drive this weekend where Verstappen finished fifth to clinch the crown. His key moments across the season are also discussed and where Verstappen sits on the list of F1’s all-time greats with only Juan Manuel Fangio (five), Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton (both seven) having more championships than him.

It was actually George Russell who won the grand prix though, so his dominant drive from pole is also discussed as Mercedes finished 1-2 thanks to Hamilton’s stunning comeback from 10th. The Silver Arrows topped every session in Vegas, so Ben and Mark ponder what lies ahead for Hamilton who next year is joining Ferrari, a squad that was on the end of a rant from its driver Charles Leclerc having been beaten to that final podium spot by team-mate Carlos Sainz, the man the seven-time champion is replacing. 

Finally, the battle for sixth in the constructors’ standings is also discussed, a position now held by Haas as Alpine suffered a frustrating outing with Pierre Gasly retiring due to a power unit failure after starting third on the grid.