The pair started the sprint race on the front row with Norris on the superior outside line, but Hamilton got a better launch and forced the McLaren driver wide around the swooping right-hander at turn one.

Discussing the move with Viaplay after the sprint, Norris said: “He [Hamilton] did a good job. I’m disappointed. I did a bad job. I made a mistake. But that happens.

“I don’t know what else I really should have tried at that point. I’m not just going to give up the position, but maybe I should have done. Lewis drove a good race, so well done.”

Hamilton went on to finish the race in second place but was comfortably off the pace of eventual race-winner Max Verstappen, who extended his lead beyond 10 seconds after beating out the Brit.

Offering his thought process in the move on Norris, Hamilton said: “I obviously got a great start and was on the inside line. He tried to hold the outside line, and we both pushed to the maximum.

“I used everything to try and hold position, and eventually, I think he just ended up on the dirty bits on the outside and then lost it. There’s a point when you go a bit too far, then there’s there’s no grip out there, and I think that’s what he eventually found.”

Despite the result bringing strong points for Mercedes, team principal Toto Wolff was far from impressed with the pace demonstrated by his two drivers.

“I am not happy,” he told Sky Germany. “Yes, I think the positive is that it’s a P2 and that’s solid. The performance was there. We take the positives.

“But also, realistically, these guys behind us fought with each other, held each other up. We are where we are. It’s a top-six car and this is what we need to acknowledge and work on from here.”