Verstappen and Norris are known for being close friends, if such a concept exists in the Formula 1 paddock, but recently they have been competing closely, and after some races of near collisions, the inevitable finally happened and they collided while fighting for the lead in the Austrian Grand Prix, resulting in Verstappen being deemed responsible.
Norris acknowledged that he would lose respect for Verstappen if the latter does not apologize for the accident, something he will have to wait for.
After the race, Horner spoke with the media, including GrandPrix247, about the incident and was asked about its impact on the supposed friendship between Verstappen and Norris.
“Maybe they won’t engage in friendly activities tomorrow!” Horner joked. “But I’m confident they will discuss. Both are fierce competitors and will have an open conversation about it. I have no doubts about that.”
When asked about the existence of friendships among Formula 1 drivers, the Red Bull team boss stated: “There are different relationships among the drivers throughout the grid.
“Lately, respect is the most important factor, and friendships inevitably wear off when competing fiercely,” he insisted.
Regarding McLaren team boss Andrea Stella, he was asked about the potential impact on the relationship between the two drivers. He stated: “I hope that’s not the case.
“Obviously, in professional sports, at the pinnacle of the sport, under the immense pressure these individuals face, there will always be some wear and tear on human relationships. However, if the drivers are able to show respect and integrity, and if they are able to apologize and take responsibility for their actions, I believe the human relationship can withstand it.
“In fact, they may even gain more respect, as it demonstrates their ability to be strong competitors while also being capable of apologizing. The outcome of the incident may not necessarily determine the future of their relationship. It will depend on the values they demonstrate before, during, and after the experience as pilots.
“Therefore, I don’t believe their relationship is compromised. But it is a situation where someone will need to apologize,” Stella concluded.
(Report by Agnes Carlier from Spielberg)
