MAX VERSTAPPEN drove Lando Norris to the brink of world championship defeat – and then turned on the McLaren star’s alleged backers in the British media.

Verstappen delivered one of the best drives of his career to win a rain-soaked Brazilian Grand Prix and extend his title lead over Norris to 62 points with only 86 points remaining over the concluding three rounds.

But prior to his virtuoso performance, Verstappen had been likened to Wacky Races villain Dick Dastardly by Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion, while respected broadcaster and former British racer Martin Brundle said the Dutch driver’s legacy is being “tainted” in the wake of his 20-second penalty in Mexico for forcing Norris off the road twice.