Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has won the Formula One world title for a fourth straight year.

His victory was confirmed after finishing fifth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Mercedes' George Russell won the race.

The 27-year-old has become just the sixth driver in Formula One history to win four titles or more, after outscoring Lando Norris.

Now, with Norris taking the chequered flag in only sixth, Verstappen is guaranteed the world crown with two races remaining.

"Oh my God man," said an emotional Verstappen after securing the world title. "What a season. Four times. It was a little bit more difficult than last year."

Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton have each won a record seven, with 1950s Argentine legend Juan-Manuel Fangio on five ahead of Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel and now Verstappen on four.

Having won every Drivers' Championship since claiming his first in the controversial end to the 2021 season, Verstappen now joins Hamilton, Fangio and Vettel in winning four titles consecutively.

Only Schumacher has achieved a run of five.