Norris pleased Albon avoided penalty for late Suzuka lunge!

McLaren's Lando Norris says that he is pleased Alex Albon didn't receive a penalty for a late lunge on him during Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix. Struggling with overheating brakes due to debris from Charles Leclerc's front wing in his brake ducts, Norris was being caught rapidly by Albon and was caught by surprise when he saw an Aston Martin Red Bull Racing car up his inside at the final chicane, having already turned in for the corner.

It was a Daniel Ricciardo style lunge from Albon, who is getting a reputation for brave overtakes already in his short F1 career so far.

Norris pitted after the collision, but says it was because of the overheating brakes rather than the clash with Albon.

He told reporters in Japan: "He made a decent move, must’ve been from quite a long way back.

“My brakes were overheating completely because of the debris, which meant that I locked up the front right completely. He then sent it from a long way back. Fair play to him anyway.

“I saw him freaking late, to be honest. I started to turn in, I think I was on the brakes but they just weren’t slowing down properly.

“But he must of committed before, and I was almost getting to the apex, at which point I saw him."