Lando Norris shows true colours with Max Verstappen remark despite blowing up at rival

showed his class after the , reiterating his respect for , despite the fact that the Dutchman received two 10-second penalties for dangerous moves on the driver.

Norris launched a legitimate move to the outside of his title rival at Turn Four in the phase following the early safety car restart, but was shoved wide despite being alongside the Red Bull driver.

After scampering across the grass, Norris kept the position ahead of Verstappen, who responded with an even more egregious lunge at Turn Eight. He was heavily penalised for both incidents.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 about their clashes, Norris said: "I think this was... I don't know... this was another step from Austin. Austin was... I don't necessarily think any of us should have had a penalty in Austin.

"I'm not saying Max should have had one and me not. I don't think that is the case. I just don't think any of us should have had a penalty. Here I just think it was a lot more clear... for different reasons - I don't need to say them.

"I respect Max a lot, in what he does, how he races, all of these things. And I look forward to having good battles with him. I want to have them. It makes me smile and it's what I love about racing and it's kind of why I do it in a way.

"But things like today... it's a bit too far and we both could be out of the race, you know, and I just don't think that is how you should race. Maybe some people will disagree and say I'm wrong.

"But yeah, I think today was a step too far and I think Max will know that, I hope, and we can then go ahead to have some more clean, fair battles because I look forward to them."

With Norris taking the chequered flag in P2 and Verstappen down in sixth place after his penalties, the gap between the two championship protagonists has been reduced to 47 points heading into the final four races of the season.