Verstappen is still doing things on his own terms

At 27, Max Verstappen (right), who has sealed a fourth straight world title, is a veteran of 10 Formula One seasons in which he has forced officials and aficionados to seemingly spend as much time consulting rule books as record books.

The close battle this season brought out the fighter in an often under-pressure Verstappen and again drew criticism for his willingness to push the rules in his brushes with rivals.

Verstappen shrugged off condemnation of the way he tried to hold off title rival Lando Norris in the Mexican Grand Prix.

“I think I know what I am doing,” he said. “Some people are just a bit biased, I get it, it’s fine. It’s not my problem at the end of the day.”

Verstappen comes from racing stock. His Dutch father Jos drove in eight Formula One seasons. His mother, Sophie Kumpen, was a Belgian karting champion.

He started karting in 2005 and mopped up titles as he progressed through classes, finishing with a record-setting season in 2013.