Max Verstappen has heaped praise on his Red Bull team after clinching a fourth F1 world title in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
A fifth-place finish was enough for Verstappen to seal his fourth consecutive crown for Red Bull, becoming just the sixth driver to win four or more titles and the second quadruple Red Bull champion after Sebastian Vettel.
After a tough period mid-season, Verstappen bounced back with a crushing win last time out in Brazil to secure the crown, as George Russell won the race itself.
Reflecting joining Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Vettel and Lewis Hamilton as a quadruple champion, Verstappen praised his team for the turnaround with the RB20.
"It has been a long season, we started off amazing, almost cruising but then we had a tough run, but as a team we kept it together, we kept working on the improvements and pulled it out," he said.
"I'm proud of what everyone has done for me, and to stand here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought was possible, I am relieved but also very proud.
"I was just happy to be [in F1], dreaming of potential victories or standing on the podium, all the normal things that are very difficult to achieve, and then to go on this run after a tough few years where we kept trying and then to hit the ground running with a concept, to be standing here as a four-time world champion is incredible.
"It was a very challenging season, I think also as a person at times, it's very challenging and I had to be calm, but this season taught me a lot of lessons that I am very proud of, and how we handled it as a team, that makes it very special.
"I think [the fans] got a bit spoiled last year with all the wins, so they had to wait for it a long time in the middle of the season, and it great to see them again here as well.
"To the team, what can I say? I mean, we have been through a lot together and all these highs that we are achieving right now is just very very special to do that with all the group of people that we have here at the track and back at the factory that are continuously pushing flat out to give me the car to fight for a title and to do that four times in a row is very special."
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