Norris made a successful bid for fastest lap in the final moments as he finished sixth and mathematically dropped out of championship contention, while teammate Oscar Piastri crossed the line in seventh after a time penalty for skipping the start.

Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg released RB’s Yuki Tsunoda late in the race in what could be crucial to the constructors’ battle for P6, especially after second-row starter Pierre Gasly suffered an embarrassing retirement due to on-board technical problems of his Alpine.

Sergio Perez added a point to Red Bull’s tally of 10th, denying Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, while Haas racer Kevin Magnussen was 12th ahead of Kick Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu and the Williams of Franco Colapinto, who started in the pit lane after his terrifying qualifying crash.

Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Liam Lawson (RB), Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber) were the eventual finishers, while Alex Albon was the second retirement for Williams due to his own technical problems.

However, all the attention turned to Verstappen as he returned to the Parc Ferme, celebrating with his Red Bull team as the 27-year-old joined a group of F1 greats who won four world titles – all one after the other achieved.

More to follow.