How many F1 world championships has Max Verstappen won? Number of times Red Bull star has been crowned champion

Max Verstappen is now a four-time Formula One world champion after securing the points he needed in Las Vegas to guarantee the 2024 title.

Heading into the Saturday night race at the Strip Circuit, the Dutch driver knew he would almost certainly claim a fourth successive crown should he finish ahead of rival Lando Norris. He duly did, with his fifth-place finish enough.

This has been somewhat less dominant of a year for Verstappen and Red Bull than they enjoyed in 2023, and the rise of McLaren and Ferrari in the latter half of the season suggests next season could be a truly engaging battle. Nevertheless, 2024 has proved to be another year to remember for modern F1's dominant force.

MORE: Which driver has the most wins in an F1 season?

How many F1 world championships has Max Verstappen won?

Verstappen has won four F1 world championships, having clinched his latest title by finishing in fifth place at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2024.  He is one of just five drivers to win four consecutive titles — having also been champion in 2021, 2022, and 2023 — along with Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher is the only man in history to win the title for five years running.

MAX VERSTAPPEN, YOU ARE THE WORLD CHAMPION! 👑 pic.twitter.com/Wr6EJdCEwx

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) November 24, 2024

His first triumph came in dramatic fashion at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the final lap of the 2021 season. Williams driver Nicholas Latifi crashed on Lap 50 of 58, with Hamilton of Mercedes leading comfortably. A safety car was deployed and forced Mercedes to make a critical strategy decision: pit Hamilton for fresh tyres or keep track position and risk a race restart against Verstappen who pitted for fresh softs. Mercedes opted not to pit, but a late-race decision allowed lapped drivers, including Verstappen, to overtake, setting up a dramatic final lap where the Dutchman overtook Hamilton to win the championship for Red Bull, leaving Mercedes in disbelief.

Has one lap ever contained so much emotion? 🍿#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 @redbullracing pic.twitter.com/SY4oWS5qML

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 13, 2021

Verstappen then secured his second Formula 1 world championship during a rain-soaked 2022 Japanese Grand Prix but again it was during strange circumstances. The race had seen a temporary halt, signalled by a red flag, after just two laps due to heavy rain and an action-packed start. They then got back out on track and the Red Bull driver crossed the finish line first but was unaware of his achievement. 

It was only after a decision by race officials to award full points for the shortened race that the confusion cleared and Verstappen's title victory was awarded. Verstappen won with four races left in the season.

In 2023, Verstappen claimed the title with six grands prix still to race, underlining the dominance he and Red Bull have enjoyed. Things were much closer in 2024 after McLaren and Ferrari's resurgence in the latter half of the season, but after a stunning performance to win at Interlagos, Verstappen's fifth-place finish in Las Vegas was enough to seal title No. 4 with two races remaining.

Who has won the most World Drivers' Championships in F1 history?

Michael Schumacher (7)

One of the greatest drivers to ever grace Formula One, German racer Michael Schumacher rose to fame in 1994 when he claimed his first World Drivers' Championship whilst driving for Benetton.

He'd go on to add another title just a year later in 1995 with the same team before he embarked on a glittering career with Ferrari, going on to dominate the sport through the early 2000s.

Picking up the title every year between 2000 and 2004, Schumacher also still holds the record for most World Drivers' Championships won in succession with five thanks to that run — a historic streak that may never be matched. 

Years won: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

Lewis Hamilton (7)

The most dominant driver in recent F1 history, Lewis Hamilton joins Michael Schumacher at the top of the list of racers with the most World Drivers' Championship titles to their name.

Winning his first title with McLaren back in 2008, Hamilton then made the move to Mercedes soon after, which has since seen him deliver six world titles during his time with the German constructor. 

Many would argue that the British driver is the greatest in history, especially given the controversial circumstances in which he finished P2 during the 2021 season, and you wouldn't back against him in winning another World Drivers' Championship in the future. 

Years won: 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

Most successful F1 drivers in history by number of World Drivers' Championship titles won

*Bold represents current F1 drivers

How many F1 races has Max Verstappen won?

Verstappen has won 62 races since beginning his F1 career in 2015. He remains some way short of the all-time record held by Hamilton, however.

Complete list of the most successful F1 drivers in history by race wins

*Bold represents current F1 drivers

How many F1 podium finishes has Max Verstappen had?

In 2021, Verstappen set a new record of 18 podium finishes in a single F1 season. He won 10 grands prix and came second eight times across 22 races.

In total, he has 111 podium finishes to his name, placing him fourth in the all-time standings.

Top 10 drivers with most podium finishes in F1 history

*Bold represents current F1 drivers