What’s Formula One really like, people often ask me. After seven years covering the sport for this newspaper, I can tell you that the champagne-soaked, tyre-screeching world of glitz, glamour and celebrities most people see on television — on Sky Sports F1 or in Netflix’s hit Drive to Survive — is only part of the story.

The less glossy reality is often marathon travel sessions shuttling between the likes of Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi. I don’t complain. It’s a fascinating job, but you do need a boss who understands how demanding F1 can be — and I’m not even behind the wheel.

Stepping down this month, I can say I have been lucky to have such a boss. Others are less fortunate. Christian Horner,