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What does all this mean for Tsunoda?

Tsunoda will be hurt by the events of this week. The Japanese racer felt he had done enough to earn promotion but has been overlooked.

His future with the programme is precarious. His backers Honda are leaving the team at the end of 2025 to make Aston Martin their works team – and Horner suggested, during an end-of-season media lunch, that it might be time for him to move on for pastures new after what will have been five years with the sister team.

Horner said: “We’re acutely aware that if we’re not able to provide an opportunity for Yuki being in all honesty this year, does it make sense?

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“You can’t have a driver in the support team for five years. You can’t always be the bridesmaid. You’ve either got to let them go at that point or look at something different.”

That said – his chances of stepping up to the main works team aren’t over yet, with Horner suggesting he could still be called upon.

“Certainly Yuki impressed the team when he tested last week in Abu Dhabi,” said Horner. “His feedback was good. And I think that he, if required, would be there to be drawn on if we needed to.”