Max Verstappen may have enjoyed a simply lovely end to the 2017 season, but there was always plenty left in the tank for the Dutchman after a difficult sta💟rt to the year. Red Bull was off the pace early on, but Verstappen struggle even then to show his talents as he battled 🎀recurring reliability issues.

Verstappen’s victories in Malaysia and Mexico sent out a warning shot to any of his doubters in the F1 paddock, though. They weren’t just wins - the🍨y were demolitions. Such devastating disp𒈔lays could become more frequent if Red Bull and, perhaps more importantly, Renault, are able to get their act together for the 2018 season and deliver a race-winning car once again.

Verstappen’s qualifying improvement between 2016 and 2017 was particularly noticeable as he thrashed recognised Saturday specialist Daniel Ricciardo head-to-head, and if he can offer a similar step🥀 in another part of his game for next year, we could be set for his first real title bid.