FIRST of all, a few words of ­consolation and perspective for British motorsport fans. But F1 needed Horner and his team to strike a blow against the dominance of Mercedes and Hamilton. They did that from the second race of the season, when Verstappen, 24, won in Italy, until the ridiculous mayhem of the very last lap of the winner-takes-all contest. That’s why Verstappen’s victory, in the long run, may only add to the might of Hamilton’s legacy. Already knighted by the establishment, Hamilton is now respected by the anti-establishment too. Yet had the season finished with Hamilton winning behind a safety car, many might not have felt so compelled to tune in next season. Then, as Hamilton led for the majority of the race, he sounded increasingly jittery and nervous on the team radio.

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