Lando Norris, McLaren (P6, 8 pts): 7/10
Like his McLaren team mate, Lando Norris never really quite came alive this weekend. He was in the top four across the three practice sessions but then seemed to struggle in qualifying, coming worryingly close to missing the final cut at the end of Q2. When the lights went out for the start of the race, Norris just seemed to be lacking the requisite pace and pep to do much about passing Max Verstappen who had started alongside him on the third row. Neither was Norris under much pressure from the cars behind. It was clear that any remaining chance of beating Verstappen to the title was ebbing away with every lap.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull (P5, 10 pts): 8.5/10
Ladies and gentlemen, your Formula 1 world champion for the fourth time in a row is Max Verstappen. And he clinched the title with class and not a small amount of relief and restraint, focused on staying out of trouble and keeping ahead of Lando Norris to seal the deal with as little drama as possible. He ran as high as second during the middle stage of the race, but then practically sprang to one side to keep out of danger as Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz and then Charles Leclerc thundered past. As long as the orange cars were behind, that was all he wanted to him today. And they were. Not his greatest drive by any means, but a terrific achievement and a rare display of level-headed calm and long-term thinking from Verstappen..
