LANDO NORRIS MESSAGED HAMILTON TO APOLOGISE FOR COMMENTS

McLaren driver Norris, who made his debut last season and is currently the youngest driver on the grid, implied Hamilton’s victories had come easy because the Mercedes driver has the best car and is offered little competition.

After Hamilton broke Michael Schumacher’s F1 win record at Portimao, Norris was asked about the achievement after the race, where he replied: “I’m just happy for him, nothing more. 

“It doesn’t mean anything to me, really. He’s in a car which should win every race, basically. He has to beat one or two other drivers, that’s it. Fair play to him, he’s still doing the job he has to do.”

Norris also made strong remarks towards Racing Point’s Lance Stroll following the pair’s collision at Portimao.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s race at Imola, Norris confirmed his apology was for his Hamilton comments.

“They were more the comments about Lewis and him reaching his 92 wins,” Norris said. “I have a lot of respect for [that] and I just didn’t choose those words to put it into context.

“I don’t know if he knew about it at the time but I never mean to say something like that in a bad way or put any bad light on him at all. I respect everything he’s done to achieve what he’s done. It’s incredible no matter what.

“It’s just the way I put it was just not the way I wanted to put it across. I said what I said, I apologised and I’ve just got to move on.”

Norris refuted suggestions he was forced to apologise to the six-time world champion.

“It was all done off my own back,” Norris said. “No one pressured me, it wasn’t something that anyone even said, it wasn’t something that many people even noticed.

“I woke up in the morning and I looked on social media and there was a lot more bad comments than good about the things I said. I never mean any of it to be put in that way or taken out of context in a bad way, especially against Lewis.

“I saw how it was going down and I felt bad because it’s not the person I am to put shame on anyone or not have the respect for such a driver. So I made the decision in the morning to put out the tweet and just issue my apology and message Lewis also at the same time to set things straight.”

NORRIS MESSAGED HAMILTON TO APOLOGISE FOR COMMENTS NORRIS MESSAGED HAMILTON TO APOLOGISE FOR COMMENTS

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