Image source, Getty Images

On if this is something he thought would happen when he was younger, Max Verstappen said: "I was just happy to be there [racing] and dreaming of potential victories and standing on the podium, just normal things that are already very difficult to achieve.

"We then just got onto that run of a tough few years where we kept trying and then we hit the ground running with the new concept."

On it being a competitive season: "It was a very challenging season, also as a person at times it was very challenging and I had to be calm. In a way I still prefer last season, I enjoyed it a lot but I think this season it has taught me a lot of lessons.

"I am very proud of us as a team and in a way that makes it a very special and beautiful season."

Champagne momentpublished at 08:03 Greenwich Mean Time

08:03 GMT

Franco Colapinto should also get a glass of bubbly today. The Argentine was involved in that 50G crash in Q2 yesterday and starting from the pit lane for today's race. He said he was a little bit sore when talking to Martin Brundle on the grid but he recovered well to finish P14, which will give his mechanics a boost after all their hard work over the weekend.

George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz are now soaked through with champagne while Queen's 'We Are the Champions' rings out for Max Verstappen.

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Max Verstappen on winning his fourth consecutive world championship: "It’s been a long season, we start off amazing and we were cruising but then we had a tough run as a team but we kept it together, we kept working on improvements and I couldn’t be more proud of everyone, what they have done for me.

"To stand here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought was possible. At the moment I’m feeling relieved but also very proud.”

Race winner George Russell says he was planning on flying home from Las Vegas tonight, but as he's just taken victory, he's going to cancel that flight and rip up the Strip instead.

Will Lewis Hamilton be joining him to celebrate Mercedes' one-two? Who knows. After finishing second from his P10 start he said: "If I'd done my job yesterday, it would have been a breeze today."

The drivers have made their way back to the podium now and all that is left to do is pop that giant magnum of champagne.

All the drivers came over to congratulate Max Verstappen on his championship achievement. The special t-shirts have also been brought are out across the Red Bull garage - plenty of four motifs around the Las Vegas circuit.

Mustn’t forget Alain Prost in all of this, who is also a four-time champion.

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11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

12. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

13. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)

14. Franco Colapinto (Williams)

15. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

16. Liam Lawson (RB)

17. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

18. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)

DNF. Alex Albon (Williams)

DNF. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

1, George Russell (Mercedes)

2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - champion

6. Lando Norris (McLaren)

7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

8. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)

9. Yuki Tsunoda (RB)

10. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

George Russell was delighted on the team radio after taking his third career victory - no better party venue than Las Vegas - and now he joins team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz in a Rolls Royce to be ferried all the way to the Bellagio fountains for the podium celebrations. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, is travelling in his own car with engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.

Jenson Button is joined by actor Terry Crew for the post-race interviews - and he's ecstatic to see Hamilton!

Rosanna Tennant
5 Live F1 reporter in Las Vegas

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said to Rosanna Tennant: "It's incredible, he's [Max Verstappen] done an amazing job, he's been outstanding all year and we are just very proud of him, he's driven brilliantly.

"He's won eight grand prixs, he's won the world championship with two races to go, you can't ask for more than that.

"He just gets in the car and he delivers, he's a great human. It puts him amongst the greats, statistics now put him there as well.

"He's only just turned 27 and he's in the form of his life so as long as we can keep giving him a decent car then he will keep delivering."

Image source, Getty Images

Not just a fourth title, it's a fourth consecutive crown for Max Verstappen and he can now take a seat alongside Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio and Sebastian Vettel in this elite club of champions.

His seven wins in the first 10 races was enough to offset the dip in form Red Bull experienced this season. While the car didn't quite have the pace, Verstappen was still on the podium after his early dominance and following that magnificent victory in Sao Paulo, his fifth place in Las Vegas was enough to seal the deal.

Rosanna Tennant
5 Live F1 reporter in Las Vegas

Everybody has got their camera out trying to capture the moment, everyone trying to savour it all as well, lights flashing, music blaring.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

I say this is Max Verstappen's best world title but it hasn't all gone his way, he's had to fight for it, he's had things go against him and that is what has sweetened the deal.

"Oh my god what a season, four times, thank you guys. It's a little more difficult than last year, but we pulled through. Thank you so much guys."

Lewis Hamilton started 10th but recovered superbly to finish his weekend in Las Vegas in second place. Carlos Sainz seals the final podium place in third.

Lando Norris' title bid has come to an end as finish his sixth. He does take the extra point for fastest lap.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Brilliant stuff from Max Verstappen, he looks quite emotional in the cockpit, head in his hands as he comes down the back straight.

George Russell started on pole position and despite a little bit of pressure from Charles Leclerc at the start, he's been untroubled at the front of this Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Get the champagne ready...

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

George Russell has done everything right during this race, he's drove what you could say is quite a perfect race.

Lando Norris comes in to pit for a set of softs and shot at that extra point for the fastest lap. George Russell is about to be crowned race winner, while Max Verstappen is on his way to becoming a four-time world champion...

Sergio Perez is into the points in 10th. Nico Hulkenberg is up places to eighth, one spot higher than the RB of Yuki Tsunoda in ninth.