Marko partied with Verstappen in Vegas: 'Only got to the hotel at 4:30am'
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Helmut Marko said that it was "tough" to make the airport for 8:30am in Las Vegas after Max Verstappen sealed his fourth consecutive championship in the 'Sin City'. The Dutchman finished ahead of championship rival Lando Norris in the Nevada desert, and as a result, it gave him a 63-point lead with only 60 possible points available in the final two races of the season.
Verstappen's title defence in 2024 was not straightforward, with the RB20 struggling mightily in the middle of the season. McLaren, on the other hand, looked superb with its consistency and pace, but Norris could not make the most of it. Some great performances from the Red Bull driver to keep close to the Brit meant he could seal his title with two races to spare.
Speaking to Oe24, Marko explained how he, Verstappen and the rest of the Red Bull Racing team celebrated: "There wasn't much time. The awards ceremony wasn't until midnight and it was still very cozy on the track. Then we went on individually. I was at the hotel between four and half past four. But hardly anyone sleeps there. I had to be at the airport at eight-thirty, and that was tough," Marko revealed.
Marko on earlier statements about Las Vegas
Before the championship weekend, Marko was still fairly critical of Las Vegas. He said the 2023 event did not live up to all the high expectations. When asked about those statements, Marko did backtrack a little. "When the lights are on, then it works. Then there is romance. I realised at the weekend that it is the ideal place to party."
The Las Vegas Grand Prix was the first race of the final triple-header of the season. Next weekend is the Qatar Grand Prix, and then the Formula One circus travels to Abu Dhabi for the season finale. “We haven't had a minute's rest. Over the next few days, we will have a quiet dinner in Dubai,” Marko concluded.
This article was created in collaboration with Estéban den Toom