BARCELONA, Spain — In a year in which McLaren has emerged as Formula One’s dominant team with a brilliant car and two outstanding drivers, Max Verstappen’s efforts to stay in the hunt for the World Championship must be applauded.

Formula 1 has gone into meltdown after Max Verstappen escaped with just a 10-second penalty for ramming into bitter rival George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix.

The world champion was penalised by 10 seconds at the end of the race and given three penalty points, bringing his total to 11 for a 12-month period