Gianpiero Lambiase shares what really surprised him about Max Verstappen’s title-winning radio message

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen can go into the final two races of the 2024 Formula 1 season with a huge weight off his shoulders.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix was freezing cold and an endurance event for every driver, team and media personnel in the paddock due to the unfavourable timings of each session.

Knowing a long journey to race at the Qatar Grand Prix just a few days later was on the horizon, Red Bull and Max Verstappen wanted to get the job done ahead of a gruelling end to the longest campaign in the sport’s history.

Formula 1 has been famous in the past for last-lap drama and final races where everything was on the line.

However, on this occasion, Verstappen was calmly able to come home in fifth, not needing to worry about keeping faster cars behind him or pulling off daring overtaking moves to get the job done.

It sparked scenes of jubilation in the Red Bull garages and celebrations that went long into the night in Sin City.

However, Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s race engineer said on the F1 Nation Podcast that he was taken slightly by surprise by one thing the Dutchman did on the team radio just after the race.

Max Verstappen’s surprisingly emotional radio message after winning his fourth F1 world championship

Lambiase was asked about his emotions after the race and said: “It is an immense relief, but also a little bit more emotional than I was expecting, actually, both from Max on the radio and I let Christian give him, well, let’s say, carry out all the complimentary on the radio because I choked up a little bit as well.

“And I think it just comes down to that relief at the end of what has been actually quite an intense year.

“Not quite as intense as 2021, but at times run it close.”

Verstappen’s engineer was then asked what made this championship so special and he continued: “They’re all special.

“Don’t get me wrong. Last year was special for very different reasons.

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“But this one’s special because of the effort and commitment that not only Max, but the whole team has had to put in to make it happen.

“Okay, the first half a dozen races looked like it was a bit of a cruise, but actually we entered quite a difficult period as everybody knows.

“But we had to work day and night to really try to understand the source of the problems.

“And I think we’ve started to come out the other side, which is great news for the team, but it’s also meant that our performances on track have improved and we saw the combination of that in Brazil with Max as well.”

The message Christian Horner delivered over the radio to Max Verstappen after the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Lambiase had to warn Verstappen on several occasions during the race when he encountered either Ferrari or McLaren car that they weren’t his priority.

Verstappen and Lambiase hadn’t always talked during the season, with the 27-year-old particularly annoyed after one race this year.

However, his words were heeded this time around and Verstappen now faces a similar issue to Lewis Hamilton when he was regularly winning world championships earlier in his career.

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On the radio after the race, Horner said: “Max Verstappen, you are a four-time Formula 1 world champion!”

Verstappen replied and said: “Oh my god, another season! Four times, thank you, thank you guys.

“Thank you to everyone. It’s a little bit more difficult than last year, but we pulled through and we gave it all.

“Thank you so much, guys!”

It’s been an intense campaign for Verstappen and Red Bull and while there’s still something to play for in the Constructors’ Championship, that looks like a long shot with just two races to go.