Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was unaware that Max Verstappen is just 12 points adrift of championship leader Lando Norris.

Though, due to boredom, Charles Leclerc spent much of Sunday's race trying to calculate the various championship permutations, it's unclear precisely what Lewis Hamilton was thinking about.

At race end he admitted surprise that Max Verstappen had won, and was further shocked to hear the Dutchman - who at one stage was 104 points adrift - was in contention for the title.

"How's Max 12 behind now?" the Briton asked reporters. Told that the Dutchman had won, he added: "Max won? Oh s**t, I didn't know, I had no idea!

"Holy s**t! Wow!" he laughed. "I thought Piastri won. Well, that's exciting! It goes right to the last... to the wire."

Of course, the Ferrari driver has bitter memories of the last time it went to the wire at Yas Marina, though he gracefully avoided the subject.

"We all know Max does a great job," said the Briton. "I think he's got a phenomenal team behind him, there's no denying that the best car really over the last four years, and maybe less so the beginning of this year.

"But they somehow came back. He's obviously got a great car, but he does an amazing job with it. So fair play to him."