Following's Verstappen's 2021 title win, here's a list of F1 champions over the years...
Ricciardo said Formula One was lucky it was not having to deal with a very different story.
World champion Lewis Hamilton, back in the car after his COVID-19-enforced absence at last week's Sakhir Grand Prix, was third but only 0.086 seconds off the pace.
Perez, who vaulted to fourth in the overall standings after Sunday's race, is the first Mexican driver to win a race since Pedro Rodriguez took victory in the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix.
A series of questionable race control calls were made as Max Verstappen won his first F1 title.
The Dutchman stopped Hamilton from winning an eighth title with a gutsy turn in the final lap.
