Max Verstappen fell agonisingly short in his quest to win a fifth successive Formula One drivers’ title despite winning the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

Dutch race fans packed bars and sports clubs across the country to cheer on the Red Bull driver, knowing he needed to win and finish three places in front of championship leader Lando Norris.

Verstappen pulled away from pole position, while Norris was overtaken on the first lap by his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who also had a chance of snatching the world title.

But the 26-year-old British driver held his nerve in the closing stages to clinch third spot and the coveted drivers’ title by a two-point margin.

“We showed again how fast we are,” Verstappen said immediately after the race. “I’m not disappointed, I’m proud of everyone who didn’t give up. We kept going and never gave up.”

Verstappen seemed to be out of contention with nine rounds of the season to go, standing 70 points behind Norris and 104 points short of Piastri.

But he won five of the next eight races while the Australian collapsed to reduce the deficit just 12 points going into the final weekend in Abu Dhabi.

However, there was to be no repeat of the drama four years ago when Verstappen claimed his first title at the expense of Lewis Hamilton with a controversial late overtaking manoeuvre.