Norris: Hamilton’s F1 Austrian GP praise “means a lot”

Norris and Hamilton battled over second-place in the early stages of the race at the Red Bull Ring.

When the seven-time champion finally was able to make a move into Turn 4, Hamilton said over team radio: “Such a great driver, Lando.”

Norris ultimately came out on top, overtaking the Mercedes driver for third on Lap 53 after Hamilton was nursing damage to the rear of his car. 

“It’s cool," Norris told Sky Sports F1, when hearing what Hamilton said. “To have that kind of respect and for him to say it, you know, it does mean a lot.

“I don’t know if he could say that because he admitted he wasn’t going to race us or had a problem or whatever. Maybe if we were racing fair and square maybe he wouldn’t have said it, I don’t know. But it’s kind words so I appreciate it.”

It was a rare occasion that McLaren was able to fight with Red Bull and Mercedes on pure pace.

Norris admitted that it was a “good feeling” to be racing at the front on merit.

“It’s not like they’re not raceable," Norris added. “You kind of get there and when you have the car to perform and do well, you realise you have a chance against them. It’s hard to ever say that until you’re actually racing against them and your car’s there and you’re going head-to-head. Normally, they’re way too far ahead of me so…

“It was cool, it’s a good feeling to race against not just Lewis but Valtteri as well and Max and Sergio, to be in that pack and say we’re fighting for a podium because our pace is just that good, was a really good feeling.”

Norris also took to Instagram to thank Hamilton.