That said, he couldn’t resist joking a little bit about his fellow British Formula One star’s demise and was clearly relieved that it had happened.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took a shock victory in Singapore to end Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s record win-streak.
Norris finished second in his McLaren, with Mercedes’ Sir Lewis Hamilton completing the podium, though for much of the last phase of the race, it was was Russell who seemed destined for the win.
The 25-year-old ran in second for much of the race before pitting under the virtual safety car and with fresh tyres he quickly closed the gap back on Sainz and Norris though was unable to get past the latter on the narrow track.
He kept pushing, but on the final lap he clipped the wall ahead of turn 10, breaking his front suspension and sending him straight into the barriers.
Asked about the incident post-race, a grinning Norris was visibly thrilled about the result and relieved that he had held off his rival, saying: ‘I hit the wall in the same place, I did the same. So I think he copied me and did it even worse!
‘So I feel for him, he fought a tough race, he was the quickest I would say out there today. So it helped me a bit, the last couple of corners I could chill.’
Hamilton equally felt for his teammate, sending this message to his fellow Brit: ‘Extremely unfortunate for George, we were pushing so hard to catch these guys and our tyres were so hot.
‘But I know he will bounce back. He’s been phenomenal all weekend.’
As for Russell himself, he appeared in the media pen in tears and was clearly distraught after going from hero to zero because of one tiny mistake, saying: ‘No words to be honest. Such a long, physical race. Difficult to keep concentration.
‘Carlos did a great job backing the pack up, not allowing us to do the alternative strategy. I think we were half a car’s length from winning the race had I got past Lando when I had the opportunity, I think we would have been able to get past Carlos.
‘Then just the last lap, a millimetre lapse of concentration and game over. So just sorry to the whole team.
‘It was a really challenging race, the tyres were dropping off and you are pushing the limits. That’s how racing should be, you make a small mistake and you are bitten for it.
‘It’s heart-breaking after such a great weekend – the car has felt great, qualifying was great, the race was great, we were bold with the strategy.
‘I feel like I let myself and the team down. It’s tough but we will come back.
MORE : ‘Incredible!’ – Carlos Sainz wins Singapore Grand Prix and ends Max Verstappen and Red Bull win-streak
MORE : Lance Stroll to miss Singapore Grand Prix through injury after huge crash
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