Norris puzzled by 'impressive' Perez Abu Dhabi contact

Lando Norris has brandished the contact made between himself and Sergio Perez during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as “impressive”.

Perez attacked Norris for fourth on lap 47 of the race but contact was made between the duo as they wet side-by-side through Turn 6 of the Yas Marina Circuit.

Perez made the overtake stick on the following lap but was issued a five-second time penalty for the contact, dropping him from second to fourth at the chequered flag.

The Mexican driver argued that he was ahead at the corner and that Norris turned into him - but Norris has explained his side of the situation.

“Oh, he was ahead,” Norris told media including RacingNews365. “I was trying to let him past.

“I was on the right, I tried to let him past. I was like four car lengths away from the apex. And somehow he's still crashing to me, so [that's] impressive.

“I literally tried to let him past and somehow he still crashed into me.”

Norris not fussed over missing P4

Norris entered the final race of the season with the chance to finish fourth in the Drivers' Championship.

However, the McLaren driver was pipped by Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc and ends the campaign sixth, matching his career high from 2021.

“Would I have loved to be fourth? Yes,” Norris said.

“But Charles jumped me. So, there was nothing I could do about that. He had a very good weekend.

“If you're not first you're last, so it doesn't bother me too much.

"It's just a good-to-know thing, but it doesn't change anything, it doesn't change my mentality in any way.

“So respect to those guys ahead me and everyone, but my main thing has to do with the championship for the team, which is the priority in the end, and otherwise, it's first or nothing for me.”