F1 legend issues three-word verdict for Max Verstappen winning the 2024 Qatar GP
Former F1 champion Damon Hill hailed Max Verstappen after the Red Bull driver maintained his composure and clinched the 2024 Qatar GP victory. Verstappen started the race from P2, claimed the lead on Lap 1, and maintained it till the end of the race.
Formula 1 was in Qatar for the penultimate race of the 2024 season and the final Sprint race weekend. Verstappen won the race, whereas Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri came home in P2 and P3, respectively.
This was Verstappen's ninth victory of this season, and 63rd overall. The Red Bull star picked the 2024 title in Las Vegas last time, making it four wins in a row. As he stood on the podium's top step once again, Hill came out to show his appreciation for the Dutch driver.
The 1996 F1 champion took to his official Instagram account to share a picture of Max Verstappen on the story. Sharing the picture, he wrote,
"Yes he is." (Signifying the winner of the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix)
The Lusail International Circuit race was a roller coaster of emotions for drivers. While Verstappen was the happiest, his 2021 title rival, Lewis Hamilton, had a day to forget. The seven-time world champion faced two penalties and a puncture, all during the race.
It was also an underwhelming day for McLaren as Lando Norris received a 10-second stop-go penalty for a safety car violation. As a result, the Papayas' hope to claim the Constructors' Championship ahead of Ferrari vanished. Piastri's P3 saved the day for them.
Ferrari, on the other hand, had a bittersweet day as Leclerc finished the race in P2, whereas Carlos Sainz faced a puncture and lost places. The Yas Marina Circuit will host the final race of the season next weekend as McLaren and Ferrari will go head-to-head for the Constructors' title.
Damon Hill cheers Max Verstappen after his fourth championship win
Following his title win in Nevada last week, Max Verstappen stated that he would have won titles in Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes from 2021 and Lando Norris's McLaren from this year.
The statement from the Red Bull driver has come amid talks about his RB20 being massively advantageous over rivals in the first few races. Citing this, Verstappen made the aforementioned comments.
Damon Hill reacted to the comment and praised the four-time world champion's confidence. He shared Verstappen's statement on his official Instagram story, and wrote,
"It's called destroying the opposition."
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were in a season-long title battle where the Red Bull driver had the upper hand in the very last lap of the very last race. Norris, on the other hand, was the title rival for Verstappen for the majority of the races, but the dutch driver was able to defend his world championship title.