The Formula One season ends in farce rather than fanfare

It wasn’t the ending the season deserved, but in Max Verstappen the sport still has a deserving champion, writes Ben Burrows

Max Verstappen won his first Formula One title on Sunday in controversial circumstances (PA Wire)

Max Verstappen is the Formula One world champion after winning a scarcely believable Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating Lewis Hamilton in a thrilling finish to an unforgettable season.

It has been one of the great campaigns with the two rivals going wheel to wheel – and often even closer – as they battled for the driver’s crown.

They headed to the season-ending race on Sunday completely level on points and were almost as close heading down to the first corner after Hamilton edged past the pole-sitting Dutchman at the start. They touched later in the first lap before Hamilton seized control of the race on his way to what he thought would be a record-breaking eighth world title.