Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are now looking like the best of enemies.

The rivalry has been cranking up, week by week. Now, Norris has publicly denied trying to mock his counter part by ripping him off.

Asked ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix about the radio message - in which he copied Verstappen's usual 'simply lovely' phrase, McLaren's Norris insisted there was no ill will intended.

"Well, I mean he's won a lot of races and he's said a lot of things," Norris told Sky Sports. "I'm not prepared for it, I don't prepare myself for it, so it just felt like the easiest go to.

"It doesn't mean anything to me from that side. I'm not trying to make a statement. I just want to go and win, and go home.

"I don't care about trying to make statements and trying to do all of this. It just popped into my head and I thought I'd say it."