Norris apologises for shattering Verstappen's Hungarian GP trophy

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Lando Norris offered his apologies for inadvertently smashing Max Verstappen's Hungarian Grand Prix trophy on the podium last Sunday.

As drivers prepared to spray the bubbly, Norris executed his signature champagne bottle thump, but the move sent Verstappen's precious $45,000 hand-made porcelain cup tumbling which broke the trophy's base and top.

In the drivers' press conference that followed the event, both drivers jokes about the blunder, with Norris blaming the crack-up on Verstappen whom he said had left the trophy "too close to the edge".

But at Spa on Thursday, the McLaren charger owned up to his gaffe and apologized for its costly consequence.

"First of all, I do want to apologise for it," Norris said.

"I obviously had no intention of ever doing such a thing. And I know how much it means to the

Read also: Rosberg warns 'untouchable' Verstappen not to get 'complacent'

Hungarians and [is] part of their culture and so forth.

"Of course, I want to enjoy the time [celebrating on the podium], but it was never my intention to do such a thing.

"I did apologise to Max. I know I made a couple of jokes about it, which maybe I shouldn't [have]. But I do feel bad. If he did it to my trophy I'd be annoyed!

"I do apologise for it and obviously [to] the people that put the time and effort in everything into making it. I really didn't mean for it to happen. I'll make sure I'm a lot more careful next time on celebrating."

Asked if he would change his celebratory ways of opening the bubbly on the podium, Norris said: "I'm gonna say no".

"There's no reason why I should, I'll just take a little bit more care with what I do. I'll just move the trophies aside and then continue."

Verstappen admitted that in any case, the trophy hadn't been his to keep as it belonged to the team, per Red Bull's contract with its drivers that call for all trophies and prizes to return to Milton Keynes to embellish the outfit's massive trophy cabinet.

"We get a new one anyway so it's alright," Verstappen said. "I don't know what they're actually doing with it. I think it's back at the factory at the moment.

"But apparently they take six months to make a new one so I guess for six months they can keep the broken one."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.