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Max Verstappen says it was karma that he ended up as F1’s world champ.

The Dutchman claimed his maiden title in controversial circumstances four months ago following a nerve-shredding finale in Abu Dhabi that scuppered Lewis Hamilton ’s hopes of a record-breaking eighth crown.

But as the countdown continued towards this season’s opener in Bahrain, the Red Bull ace said he deserved his triumph.

He said: “The championship is won over a whole season - not by one decision in the last race.

“So, I think it deserved the title - absolutely.

“Maybe there are people out there who only watched the last Grand Prix. Maybe they think I was lucky.

“But normally the championship would have been decided in my favour a long time before that race.

“I lost a lot of points - twice - after being knocked out by another car. And I had a tyre blow-out in Baku.

“It was because of all that bad luck that it came down to that last race.”

Asked if he understood why Hamilton felt hard done by, he added: “Yes, if you look at how things went in Abu Dhabi.

“But, like I said, you have to watch the whole season - you don’t earn a title based on one race.”

Tempers frayed on the track throughout the season as both drivers refused to budge one single inch.

And that was also evident in the paddock too, as team