Norris and Perez battled for fourth place in the closing stages of Sunday’s season finale at the Yas Marina circಌuit but made contact when the Red Bull  driver dived down the inside of Norris at ꧙Turn 6. 

McLaren’s Norris was forced to tak▨e to the run-off area but stayed ahead, before Perez made a clean move stick shortly afterwards. 

Perez finished second on the road but 🔥was hit with a five-second time penalty for causing the collision, which ultimately dropped him to fourth.&nb🃏sp;

“I tried to let the guy go, and he crashed into me,” Norris said. “I don’t know what he was doing. A bit careless, to be h൩onest.”

A fast start saw Norris jump George Russell’s Mercedes and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to move into third in the early sไtages, before the Briton slipped back to fifth by the chequered flag. 🤡;

“I expected more, in terms of♌ pace,” he said. “But we didn’t have it which was a shame. 

“I wanted a little more pace to attac🎶k the guys ahead. They weren’t much quicker - a tenth oඣr two tenths per lap. That was enough to stay ahead. Tough. 

“I’m happy because I don’t🔯 think we could have done m🐎ore. We lost out a bit on the pit stop. Could I have been ahead of George? Yes possibly. But I don’t think that would have changed too much. 

“We did what we needed to do as a team.”

Nor♒ris added: “I am super happy with what the team have done this year𝔉. We have taken massive steps forward. 

“We know what we want to improve.ꦓ A couple more steps on what we’ve done, then other things which will help driveability and ease of driving. 

“We have a difficult car 🔴which is why I’ve made mistakes. It’s quick enough, just, on one lap. When we need consistency we struggle too much.”