Norris saw UK specialist for back pain after first F1 races

McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris revealed he returned to the UK to see specialists for the pains he was experiencing throughout the Styrian Grand Prix weekend.

The Briton decided to limit his running during practice for last weekend’s second round at the Red Bull Ring after reporting back and chest pains. Norris underwent initial treatment after FP1 concluded on Friday and went on to claim fifth place in Sunday’s race.

He then returned to the UK in the short turnaround before this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix - staying within his bubble in order to comply with F1’s strict COVID protocols - to seek specialist treatment.

Norris had sustained bruising and put the injury simply down to having been out of an F1 car for so long during the enforced break caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’ve kind of diagnosed it and I’m feeling better for this week, which is a very good thing,” he explained.

“I went back to the UK in the last few days, remaining in my bubble, to go and see some specialists and get scans and so on.

“We diagnosed pretty much what the problem was and I’m feeling better. It’s not something that’s going to heal completely overnight but I’m much better than what I was last weekend.

“It was just bruising from being out of an F1 car for so long basically and then getting back into it and going straight into a race weekend, doing so many laps.

“It wasn’t something I could really prepare for or know about until after we did the first weekend.

“Obviously we had a few days off in between but it hit my body a few days later and I was just a bit bruised.”

Asked how he was feeling ahead of this weekend’s race in Hungary, which marks the third and final round of the opening triple-header of events this season, Norris replied: “I’m alright for now.

"It’s hard to know until I’m back in the car and pushing it to the limit again but for now everything is good.”