Norris sorry for remarks about rivals

Lando Norris has apologised after downplaying Lewis Ham i l ton ’s achievements following the six-time world champion’s record-breaking victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Ha m i l t o n went past Mi c h a e l S c h u m a c h e r ’s record of 91 race victories after winning at Portimao on Sunday.

Howe ver, Hamilton’s success did not appear to dazzle fellow British F1 driver Norris, who suggested the 35-year-old’s Me r c e d e s should be winning every race and that he only had limited competition.

Norris also criticised Racing Point’s Lance Stroll following a collision.

The 20-year-old has since apologised for his comments, saying he had been “stupid and careless” and had not shown enough respect.

He wrote on Twitter: “I owe an apology. I’ve been stupid and careless with some things I’ve said lately in media and interviews, and I haven’t shown the respect I should have to certain people.

“I’m not that kind of person, so I know I should apologise to them but also everyone reading/listening. Sorry.”

Speaking after Sunday’s race, Norris was quoted by RaceFans as saying about Hamilton: “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.”

The McLaren driver also made comments about Stroll following a collision between the pair in Po r t u g a l , but later apologised for swearing at the Canadian over the radio.

Stroll was given a fivesecond time penalty and two points on his licence for the incident.

Norris said: “I don’ t know what he was doing, really. He went to the left, I didn’t know where he was, really.

“He went to the left, which I was quite surprised by, when he could very easily have gone for the inside. And I was easily halfway alongside, he just turns in.”