The Austrian GP race, last weekend, witnessed a rather heartwarming moment between the two British drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.
During the early part of the race, Hamilton found himself stuck behind Norris for a handful of laps. The McLaren driver put up an incredible level of commitment in defending against the Mercedes duo for several laps before Hamilton finally managed to make the move over the straight between turn 3 and 4.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
After passing the fellow British driver, the seven-time world champion commented on the rising young talent, Norris. “Such a great driver, Lando,” he said.
Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton exchange messages on social media
Norris shared the video on his Instagram story, with a brief message for Hamilton. “Respect for the words. Hopefully, many more battles to come,” Norris wrote.
Eventually, the Mercedes driver came across Norris’ Instagram story and opted to share it on his very own feed too. The 36-year-old further added a ‘fist-bumping’ emoji to acknowledge his fellow countryman’s comment.
The prospects of Hamilton securing yet another podium at the Red Bull Ring were shining bright last weekend. However, then arrived an unusual threat from his former team, McLaren.
Midway through the race, Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate, Valtteri Bottas, were fighting for P2. But the time charts showed Norris lapping much faster than both the drivers, leaving Mercedes panicking.
Lando Norris’ move on Hamilton at the Austrian GP
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Mercedes affirmed Norris‘ threat and urged Hamilton to let Bottas pass in order to save the latter from Norris. Following the swap in position, the McLaren man pulled off a stunning move on Hamilton around turn 6 and was all set to chase down the Finn.
However, the 21-year-old just couldn’t lap any faster than the other Mercedes, as he found himself stuck behind Bottas, with the gap being just over a second. This ended up being the case until the checkered flag, as Norris secured his third podium of the season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The McLaren driver also managed to cross the triple-figure mark on the championship table and is now three points away from catching Sergio Perez. So, can Norris continue with the stellar 2021 show to secure his best-ever finish in an F1 season?
Watch Story: What Are Sprint Races & Where Will They Be Held?