WATCH: Lewis Hamilton Praises Lando Norris Mid-Duel at the Austrian GP

Drivers often praise each other, but usually not while racing with each other. However, that’s exactly what happened at the Austrian Grand Prix where Lewis Hamilton praised McLaren’s Lando Norris as they zipped around the Red Bull Ring.

Norris was in front of him and defending his place with sheer talent. However, the seven-times world champion found a gap and went for it, overtaking his fellow countrymen, but soon came on the team radio to praise the 21-year-old for his talent behind the wheel.

Lewis Hamilton puts aside rivalry mid-race to praise Norris

The Knight had a tough time trying to overtake the Brit around the Red Bull Ring, but his persistence gave him a window to gain a position, leaving Lando in his rearview mirrors.

Hamilton came on the team radio and said, “Such a great driver, Lando.”

And indeed, Lando was as he secured a podium finish by coming third, making it the third podium for McLaren this season. The fifteen points he earned from the Austrian GP ensure that the Woking-based outfit holds on to third place in the constructor’s standings.

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The Knight didn’t start the race from the usual front row that he is used to but saw the five-red lights from P4 on the grid. He managed to make his way up the grid and was soon on the tail of race leader, Max Verstappen.

However, he soon had to let teammate Valtteri Bottas get by to chase the Red Bull driver as he had suffered damage to his car. In the closing stages of the race, the Mercedes driver was overtaken by Norris for P3. Hence, Hamilton failed to make it onto the top step as well.

He came home with twelve points in the bag, not enough to catch Verstappen in the title race. Meanwhile, in the constructor’s championship, Red Bull extended their lead and currently have a forty-four point difference from Mercedes.

Now the Brackley-based squad has two weeks to recoup and come up with a game plan for the British Grand Prix. The team hasn’t won a race since Monaco and is hoping to change those odds when they arrive at Silverstone for the tenth round of the championship.

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