The English driver, trying to defend his Saturday pole, squeezed his title rival aggressively but ended up locking up and running wide at Turn 1, handing Verstappen an easy chance to capitalize and take the lead.

“Lando Norris tried to play Max Verstappen at his own game, the problem is that he doesn’t know the rules of that game,” Coulthard stressed via Sky Sports after the race. 

Norris was then overtaken just a few corners later by George Russell as the McLaren driver, aware he couldn’t afford any risks in his position, chose to yield to the Mercedes driver.

Despite the post-race disqualification due to excessive skid block wear on his MCL39, which cost him significant championship points, the title remains firmly in Norris’ hands — though he will now have to be extra cautious, not just of his teammate, but especially of an increasingly threatening Verstappen.

The Brit heads to Qatar, host of the final sprint event of the season, with a 24-point lead to manage — and it’s at Losail that he faces his first real championship match point to secure his maiden title.