Damon Hill reacts with one word to Max Verstappen winning the 2024 F1 championship

Damon Hill and Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen have had an intertwined 2024 Formula 1 campaign.

Max Verstappen went into the Las Vegas Grand Prix knowing he was on the cusp of winning his fourth F1 championship.

Red Bull had lost their crown as the fastest team on the grid a third of the way through the year, and as a result, Sergio Perez has really struggled.

However, Verstappen has gone above and beyond at each Grand Prix, extracting the maximum out of every event.

His methods and tactics in doing so have been controversial, to say the least, and Damon Hill has regularly had his say about whether his driving style goes beyond what’s acceptable.

Hill believes Verstappen knows deep down that his driving style isn’t correct, but the Dutchman has shown no signs of changing.

He admitted in an interview with the Chequered Flag Podcast that he would never allow a driver to overtake around the outside, a tactic he developed during his days in karting.

Verstappen has joked that he had the wrong passport in the past when citing the seemingly more harsh analysis he would receive from the British media, with Hill in particular named as one of his critics.

Damon Hill responds to Max Verstappen winning the 2024 F1 championship

Verstappen headed into the race in Las Vegas knowing that beating Lando Norris was all he needed to win the title.

McLaren’s car has been fantastic ever since they developed a key update for the Miami Grand Prix, but the street circuit in Sin City didn’t suit them at all.

Norris could only finish 6th, immediately ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, meaning Verstappen only needed a top-five finish to be crowned with two Grand Prix to spare.

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That’s exactly what the Dutchman did, and while he couldn’t match either Ferrari or Mercedes driver, he kept his car on the road and avoided any trouble to clinch a well-deserved victory.

Hill posted on his Instagram story after the race in response to a post confirming that he had won the championship, and simply said: “Maximus.”

Red Bull still in the fight for the Constructors’ Championship despite losing ground to Ferrari and McLaren

While Verstappen has now secured a fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship, the team title is unlikely to be handed out until the chequered flag is waved in Abu Dhabi.

McLaren have a 24-point lead over Ferrari but lost ground to the Scuderia after Carlos Sainz finished on the podium ahead of a furious Charles Leclerc.

Red Bull are 30 points further back with Sergio Perez just about squeezing into the top 10 after his Q1 exit.

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Red Bull will spend Saturday night in Las Vegas celebrating Verstappen’s incredible season but know that a tough decision is on the horizon.

Perez pulled off a brilliant overtaking move on Kevin Magnussen and Liam Lawson but was once again making up for a poor performance in qualifying.

He’s struggled to support his teammate all season and when the grid is set to converge even further in 2025, whether Red Bull can afford to gamble on Perez rediscovering his form over the winter is another matter.