Norris needed only to be in the top three at the Yas Marina Circuit to become the 11th driver from Britain to take the crown, and he duly obliged with an impressive drive – which even saw him face a stewards’ investigation for driving off the road when he passed Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.

Norris escaped punishment and even though Max Verstappen won the race from pole position – to end the season with more victories than anyone else – it was not enough to derail his McLaren rival’s championship charge.

Verstappen crossed the line 12.5 seconds clear of runner-up Oscar Piastri – the Dutch driver resisting the urge to resort to dark arts by backing up the pack and hoping Norris’ third place would come under threat – with Norris 3.9 seconds behind his McLaren team-mate

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